Rodrigo Duterte Lawyers Eye Australia for Former President’s ICC Interim Release

Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte Interim Release Bid to ICC

RODRIGO DUTERTE – The lawyers of the former President are eyeing Australia as one of the possible countries where he may have his International Criminal Court (ICC) interim release.

The unexpected arrest and the transfer of custody of Duterte to the International Criminal Court has hooked not only national attention but as wel as the eyes of the different countries. It was last March 11 when the former President was arrested by the Philippine authorities.

Kitty Duterte on Dad Rodrigo's Arrest

Duterte was detained for several hours but was flown en route to The Hague, Netherlands via Dubai on the same day that he was arrested for the tranfer of his custody to the ICC. Countless Duterte supporters slammed and criticized the Philippine government and Pres. Bongbong Marcos over the turn of events.

Malacañang and Marcos Jr. maintained that the government only acted on its commitment with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). Currently, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is under ICC detention for more than 100 days now. Duterte’s camp filed for his interim release bid.

Rodrigo DutertePhoto Courtesy of Bilyonaryo News Channel

Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte got foreign lawyers in his ICC legal team. His lead counsel is British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. The lawyers of the former President filed a petition seeking for his ICC interim release but it was previously not disclosed as to which country will take him in.

Duterte's Lead Counsel Nicholas KaufmanPhoto Courtesy of GMA News

According to Vice Pres. Duterte, her father, as an 80-year-old now, got needs that cannot be provided while he is in ICC detention. She stressed that former Pres. Duterte may have a nurse or a caregiver if his interim release bid would be granted. Recently, she also spoke about the possible country where the former President may stay during his interim release.

Vice President Sara Duterte

Based on a report on GMA News, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, during her visit to Melbourne, announced that the lawyers of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing Australia as one of the countries where he may have his ICC interim release. If granted, his interim release will be in a nation which is a member of the ICC and Australia is one.

However, speaking in an interview Vice Pres. Duterte clarified that she was not in Australia for the interim release. It was previously reported that the Vice President joined the “Free Duterte Now” rally abroad.

“Australia is in the list of countries that are considered by the lawyers, but I am not here for the interim release. Not for this visit,” she said.

According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, she flew to Australia as she wants to talk to the Filipino community there about the ICC and the case of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. She added that she also wanted to talk to them about the performance of the administration of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.

Based on the report, the Vice President tried to reach out to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong but the FM was unavailable. She expressed her hope that she could visit some officials of the Australian government on her next visit.

While she was in Melbourne, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that she has a problem with the performance of Pres. Bongbong Marcos as the leader of the country and the alleged violation of the Constitution. According to her, she has no ill feelings towards the President despite the alleged “political persecution”.