ICC judges reject request to release Duterte from custody

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte will remain in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) after appeals judges on Friday rejected a request to release him on health grounds.

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The octogenarian is facing charges of crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in dozens of killings as part of his so-called war on drugs when in office, first as the mayor of a southern city and later as president.

Duterte’s lawyers failed to show that an October decision by the lower chamber was unreasonable, Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza said, addressing the full courtroom in The Hague.

“The Appeals Chamber found that the defence failed to identify errors” in a lower court decision that Duterte should stay in detention, presiding judge Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza said.

Duterte was not in court to hear the ruling.

His grandson Omar Duterte told reporters after the ruling that his grandfather was not a flight risk and should have been released. “Half the time, while we are talking, he doesn’t even know why he's in there, in detention,” he said.

The defense said it plans to “reintroduce its request to release” Duterte following the results of a medication examination expected next month, lawyer Nick Kaufman said in a statement.