Duterte renews plea for ICC interim release

After initially asking pre-trial judges of the International Criminal Court to defer ruling on the issue, the defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte now wants the ICC to immediately release the former president to an undisclosed country.

- By Janvic Mateo

Defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman filed on Aug. 18 a "renewed request for interim release" of the former president. An eight-page copy was made available to the public on Wednesday night.

The public document was heavily redacted, but some details indicated Kaufman's reiteration of his assurance that Duterte will not be a flight risk and that he will not interfere with witnesses or commit crimes.

He also told the country that the undisclosed government mentioned in the initial request for interim request "continues to affirm its willingness to cooperate with the Court, to accept Mr. Duterte onto its territory, and to enforce conditions of release."

The defense said the prosecution's objections to Duterte's interim release "are either negligible or negotiable."

"Mr. Duterte's presence at confirmation proceedings may be waived but, if necessary, may equally be ensured by way of videoconferencing," Kaufman added.

The prosecution and victims' counsel earlier opposed the request, citing the risk for the security and safety of witnesses.