Philippines' Duterte seeks interim ICC release to undisclosed country

Former President Duterte seeks release citing age and humanitarian reasons, faces opposition from drug war victims.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has petitioned the International Criminal Court to allow his interim release to another country, his lawyer said in a filing, citing his advanced age and a vow not to flee or commit any crimes.

Mr. Duterte was arrested and taken to The Hague in March on murder charges linked to his “war on drugs”, where thousands of alleged narcotics peddlers and users were killed. He has maintained his arrest was unlawful and tantamount to kidnapping.

Mr. Duterte’s counsel Nicholas Kaufman told the ICC’s pre-trial chamber a third country had expressed its “advance and principled agreement to receive Mr. Duterte onto its territory”, according to the request released on Thursday (June 12, 2025). The name of the country was redacted in the text released to the public.

Mr. Duterte is not a flight risk and will not commit crimes if released, his counsel said.

“Mr. Duterte is no longer the President of the Philippines and does not command the same influence or power he is said to have abused during the period of the alleged crimes,” the request stated.

Mr. Duterte was swept to power in 2016 on a signature campaign to tackle crime and eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines. During his six years in office, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, according to government data, but rights groups say the actual toll was far greater.

Mr. Duterte cited humanitarian reasons in his request, saying that he is already 80 years old.