Former President Rodrigo Duterte has once again asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to grant him interim release to an undisclosed country, according to a newly filed submission by his lawyer.
In a document dated August 19, 2025, Duterte’s counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, informed the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber that the country in question has confirmed its willingness to accept Duterte and enforce any release conditions imposed by the court. The filing, however, was heavily redacted.
“For the sake of clarity, the Defence informs the Pre-Trial Chamber that the [REDACTED] continues to affirm its willingness to cooperate with the Court, to accept Mr Duterte onto its territory, and to enforce conditions of release,” the submission read. It also emphasized that objections raised by the prosecution were “either negligible or negotiable.”
The defense argued that keeping Duterte in detention while the issue is being contested would be “not fair or reasonable,” pointing out that delays in resolving the matter could take months.
This is not the first time Duterte’s camp has pushed for his release. Back in June, Kaufman filed a similar request, saying the prosecution did not oppose his transfer to the unnamed country as long as agreed terms were met.
Duterte remains detained in The Hague as he faces trial for crimes against humanity over thousands of killings linked to his controversial war on drugs, spanning his years as Davao City mayor and later as president of the Philippines.
