Duterte’s defense seeks Senate findings to counter ICC prosecution

The defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking to submit findings from a Senate committee inquiry to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to the prosecution's opposition to Duterte's request for interim release.

Duterte's counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, argues that the Senate committee's documentation will counter the prosecution's claims regarding the risk of releasing Duterte.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro advised Kaufman to focus on Duterte's admissions of killings rather than challenging the legality of his arrest and transport.

Castro urged Kaufman to concentrate on allegations related to extrajudicial killings during Duterte's war on drugs, stating that bringing up the legality of Duterte's arrest may be harmful to their case.

Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11, transferred to ICC custody the next day, and is currently detained at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for crimes against humanity charges related to extrajudicial killings during his administration's war on drugs.