Australia has declined to accept former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on its territory as part of his petition for provisional release from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Philstar.com reported.
Duterte had filed a request on June 12 to be temporarily freed from the ICC detention center in The Hague, citing that an unnamed third country had agreed to host him and uphold the conditions of his release. While the name of the country was redacted in court documents, Vice President Sara Duterte mentioned in a June 22 interview in Melbourne that Australia was “on the list of countries” his legal team had considered. She also claimed that one of the two nations “named” had committed to accepting her father.
However, the Australian government has clarified that it is not hosting Duterte and is not considering doing so. The matter, it said, falls solely within the ICC’s jurisdiction under the Rome Statute, to which Australia is a signatory.
The ICC prosecution, in opposing Duterte’s bid, pointed out that the country named in the petition lacks a reliable history of cooperation with the court, raising doubts about its ability to enforce release conditions.
In the same interview, Vice President Duterte also revealed she had tried to meet with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong during her visit, albeit on very short notice. “I informed her informally through a message that I am here in Australia… if she is available for a very brief quick chat just to say hello,” she said, adding that her intent was purely friendly and unofficial.
