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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has refused former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s bid to be freed from detention before his trial on crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign.
Presiding judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza ruled on Friday that Duterte’s defence team failed to propose adequate safeguards to justify his temporary release from custody in The Hague.
Duterte’s lawyers, appealing an earlier decision, had sought his release on “humanitarian” grounds, citing concerns about the 80-year-old’s health.
The judge, however, said the defence had not provided sufficient conditions to reduce the risks associated with releasing him pending trial. She also dismissed the argument that humanitarian reasons warranted his release.
Duterte, who led the Philippines between 2016 and 2022, was arrested in Manila on March 11 and transferred to the ICC detention facility in Scheveningen.
He appeared frail and spoke very little during his first court appearance via video link.
The charges relate to his violent crackdown on drug dealers and users, a campaign that rights groups say claimed thousands of lives. The court has not yet decided whether Duterte is medically fit to stand trial.
In October, judges rejected a defence claim that the ICC lacked authority to try him on three counts of crimes against humanity.
One charge concerns 19 murders committed between 2013 and 2016, when Duterte served as mayor of Davao City. Another relates to the 14 killings of alleged drug traffickers in 2016 and 2017 during his presidency.
The third involves 43 killings of low-level drug suspects.
A spokesperson for President Ferdinand Marcos said the Philippine government “respects” the ICC’s ruling. Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte, is the country’s vice president.
Human rights groups welcomed the decision.
Families of victims gathered at a Manila university to watch the hearing by video, erupting into applause when the ruling was announced.
“We prayed hard for Duterte not to receive interim release,” said Dahlia Cuartero, whose son Jesus—who would have turned 33 on Saturday—was killed during the anti-drug campaign. “This is the best birthday gift for him,” she said.
