Defense urges ICC: Let Duterte be temporarily free amid ‘fitness’ proceedings delay

The defense for former president Rodrigo Duterte has asked the International Criminal Court's (ICC) pretrial chamber for his temporary release, pointing out that administrative delays caused by questions on his health condition should not hinder his right to liberty.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

In a five-page document dated Sept. 16, Duterte's lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman stressed the need for the former president's "provisional release" from ICC detention.

"Mr. Duterte should not remain in detention while proceedings on fitness - now expected to take no less than [REDACTED] at a minimum - are underway," the document read.

"Administrative delay, occasioned by [REDACTED], cannot justify the abrogation of liberty. Provisional release should be ordered as soon as continuing detention ceases to be reasonable," it added.