The International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber has affirmed the Pre-Trial Chamber I’s ruling to keep former President Rodrigo Duterte in detention over allegations of crimes against humanity.
In a unanimous vote, the five-member Appeals Chamber denied the defense’s request to overturn the Pre-Trial Chamber I decision issued on January 26, 2026, which had ordered Duterte’s continued detention, and rejected calls for his immediate release.
The defense argued in its appeal that the Pre-Trial Chamber I had erred in fact and in law and abused its discretion by disregarding a report on the 80-year-old former president’s health condition.
“The Appeals Chamber finds that the Defense has failed to establish any errors of the Pre-Trial Chamber in relying upon the Panel’s Reports [Panel of Experts], which provide the most updated medical information in respect of Mr. Duterte’s health condition,” the decision read.
It added, “Consequently, and contrary to the Defense’s argument, the Appeals Chamber finds no inconsistency between the Pre-Trial Chamber’s rejection of the Defense’s Report and the Pre-Trial Chamber’s finding that while the Panel’s Reports constitute a new fact as to Mr. Duterte’s health condition, the Panel’s Reports and the information therein do not amount to a new fact or changed circumstance that would warrant modifying the Initial Decision on Detention under Article 60(3) of the [Rome] Statute.”
Duterte has been held at the ICC in The Hague since March 12, 2025, pending trial for alleged human rights abuses during his war on drugs when he served as mayor of Davao City and later as president.
The Pre-Trial Chamber I conducted hearings last week to determine whether to confirm the charges and proceed to a full trial. The chamber also listened to pleas from both the prosecution and the defense regarding Duterte’s continued detention.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
