🚨 NO ESCAPE: ICC APPEALS CHAMBER REJECTS DUTERTE’S BID FOR FREEDOM! PRESIDENT REMAINING IN THE HAIG DETENTION! THE UNANIMOUS VERDICT THAT SHATTERS HOPE! 💥

THE JUDGMENT: ALL GROUNDS OF APPEAL SHATTERED

In a moment of intense, hushed drama at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Appeals Chamber delivered a devastating and final blow to the defense of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The Chamber unanimously rejected the appeal for his interim release, ensuring that the former leader will remain in the ICC detention facility.

News 5 Anchor Ruth Cabal, reporting live from The Hague, described the tense scene within the public gallery—a scene where silence reigned supreme, broken only by the cold, legal recitation of the verdict. Among the attendees was the former President’s grandson, Congressman Omar Duterte, who sat listening intently to the irreversible decision.

The Appeals Chamber meticulously and ruthlessly dismantled all three grounds the defense used to argue for Duterte’s release:

Flight Risk/Risk of Obstruction: The defense argued that the Pre-Trial Chamber erred in finding Duterte posed a flight risk. The Appeals Chamber found that the defense “failed to demonstrate” any error, citing the former President’s “influence and resources,” including financial assets, and his repeated statements demonstrating an intent to “interfere with an investigation.”

State Warranties and Third Country Acceptance: The defense insisted that the Pre-Trial Chamber failed to consider assurances from a potential third country willing to host him. The Appeals Chamber again found that the defense “failed to demonstrate” any error in the initial assessment, rejecting the claim that these “state warranties” were ignored.

Humanitarian Grounds: The defense appealed based on the former President’s advanced age (80 years old) and poor health condition. The Appeals Chamber ruled that the defense “failed to demonstrate” that the initial ruling was unreasonable or irrelevant, thus upholding the finding that humanitarian considerations were properly assessed and did not warrant release.

The verdict is a catastrophic defeat for the defense, confirming that every ground laid out for the appeal was successfully countered by the robust legal framework and evidence used by the Pre-Trial Chamber.

THE POWER OF EVIDENCE: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS

A critical point of contention addressed by the Appeals Chamber involved the very nature of the evidence used against Duterte. The defense attempted to discredit the Pre-Trial Chamber’s reliance on “newspaper articles or publications.”

However, the Appeals Chamber firmly upheld the use of such material, stating that they were valid for assessing the former President’s own public actions. They noted that Duterte had, “several times,” made statements demonstrating his attempt to “interfere” with the investigation, thus confirming his ongoing risk profile.

This ruling validates the use of public, documented actions and statements—even those reported in the media—as substantive evidence in international criminal law, directly undermining the defense strategy to dismiss them as hearsay or simple journalism.

THE FUTURE: TRIAL IMMINENT, BUT APPEALS REMAIN

While the decision confirms Duterte’s continued detention, the process toward a full formal trial is not yet complete. Legal experts, speaking to News 5, explained the next critical steps in the complex ICC procedure:

Confirmation of Charges Hearing: The next major hurdle is the Confirmation of Charges Hearing. This is the stage where the ICC will determine if the evidence is sufficient to proceed with a formal trial for Crimes Against Humanity. If the charges are confirmed, the full trial will commence.

Pending Appeals: Even with this major defeat, the defense is not entirely out of legal maneuvers. The Appeals Chamber still has to address a pending appeal questioning the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Philippines. This is a separate, foundational challenge that could still, theoretically, derail the entire case.

Motion for Adjournment: The Court also needs to resolve a pending Motion for Adjournment. This involves assessing the former President’s health conditions through expert evaluation, with the defense required to submit further documentation by December.

Therefore, while the appeal for interim release is definitively denied, the trial process remains stalled by these key legal challenges.

A TENSE SILENCE: THE SCENE IN THE HAGUE

Ruth Cabal detailed the palpable tension during the reading of the verdict. Despite the presence of media, embassy representatives, and supporters, a “tense silence” pervaded the gallery.

Congressman Omar Duterte, though present, maintained a stoic composure, observed by Cabal to be “seriously listening” to the English-language ruling. The Court was meticulous, providing headsets for simultaneous translation just in case judges spoke in French or Dutch, ensuring all parties understood the finality of the decision.

Following the adjournment, the focus shifted outside the ICC building, where supporters and family members were gathered behind the barricades. The moment marks a grim reality for the former President: his freedom cannot be bought or negotiated away, and his high-profile status has done nothing to sway the unanimous judgment of the international court.

The Appeals Chamber has spoken. The legal battle to keep the former President in detention has been won. Now, the world awaits the confirmation of charges—the definitive moment that will determine if the trial for Crimes Against Humanity will finally move forward.