Observations of Netherlands, another state sought in Duterte's release bid

The pretrial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) asked the Netherlands and another state—its identity redacted from the document—to submit its observations regarding the possibility of hosting former president Rodrigo Duterte under his interim release application.

- RAYMUND ANTONIO

In a five-page document dated June 18 but only made public on Sept. 23 on the ICC’s website, the Pre-Trial Chamber I (PTC I) took note of the defense’s request to "seek observations from the host state (the Netherlands), not just on transit through its territory but, also, on the possibility of accommodating Mr. Duterte on its territory for the partial or, potentially, the full term of his interim release if so ordered', 'without prejudice to Mr. Duterte's principal request which is interim release to [REDACTED]'." PTC I Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, who signed the document, emphasized that seeking observations from the two states does not prejudge the interim release application.

"Lastly, the Chamber emphasizes that the present order is issued for the purposes of considering all relevant submissions and observations prior to deciding on the Interim Release Request and, as a consequence, neither this order nor any observations received shall be construed as prejudging any matter to be determined in the context of that decision," the document read.