ICC cites VP Sara's remarks in denying FPRRD's release bid

Vice President Sara Duterte's remarks about breaking her father out of detention was one of the reasons cited by the International Criminal Court's (ICC) pretrial chamber when it denied former president Rodrigo Duterte's interim release application.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

In a 23-page decision dated Sept. 26, but made public on Friday, Oct. 10, Judges Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, and María del Socorro Flores Liera rejected the defense camp's initial and renewed request for interim release and ordered the “continued detention" of the former president.

The pre-trial chamber noted two instances wherein the Vice President made remarks about breaking her father out of detention and his desire to go home to Davao City should he be granted temporary release from the ICC's detention facility.

"More specifically, the Chamber notes that, on 19 July 2025 Mr.

Duterte's daughter mentioned in public speeches the idea of breaking Mr. Duterte out of the ICC Detention Center, and attempted to delegitimize the Court's proceedings against Mr. Duterte, citing collusion between the Court and the government of the Philippines as well as the use of 'fake witnesses'," the decision read.

"Furthermore, the Chamber notes that Mr. Duterte's daughter allegedly indicated on 19 Aug. 2025 that Mr.

Duterte had told her that he wishes to return to Davao City, should he be granted interim release, in contradiction with the Defense's assertion that he would remain in the State he would be released to." "The foregoing illustrates Mr. Duterte's rejection of the proceedings against him before the Court, and the will of his close family to help him elude detention and prosecution," it added.