Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has filed a petition seeking “urgent interim release” from the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to the document submitted on June 12, 2025, Duterte’s camp cited Article 60(2) of the Rome Statute as the legal basis for the request.
The petition states that an undisclosed country has agreed in advance to receive Duterte during his temporary release, in accordance with its own national laws.
The filing also argued that Duterte does not pose a flight risk and that detention is not necessary to ensure his appearance before the Court.
“There is more than good reason to believe that Mr. Duterte would not embarrass his hosts, and the hospitality afforded him, by violating the terms of his release,” the petition read.
Nicholas Kaufman, Duterte’s lead defense counsel, confirmed that the host country is a member of the Rome Statute, which governs the ICC.
As of this writing, the ICC has not yet issued a decision regarding Duterte’s request.
The next steps from the Court are now closely monitored.
