Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte has pushed back against criticism from civil society group 1Sambayan, saying it would be no surprise if several nations open their doors to his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, should the International Criminal Court (ICC) allow his interim release.
The lawmaker’s statement came after 1Sambayan urged the international community to reject any bid to host Duterte if his request for temporary release is granted. The former president is currently detained at the ICC headquarters in The Hague following his arrest on March 11, linked to allegations of crimes against humanity over thousands of deaths in the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign.
“Numerous countries have in fact lauded FPRRD in his crusade to combat crime in our country and I would not be surprised if many will express interest in receiving FPRRD in their respective country,” said Rep. Duterte, calling the group’s warning “interesting.”
He also criticized 1Sambayan for their silence on other national threats. “Never did we hear anything from this group when drug lords and NPA insurgents terrorized our fellow Filipino citizens,” he said.
1Sambayan, in a statement released on June 14, labeled Duterte’s request for release “a profound insult to the Filipino people” and warned that any country accepting him would undermine justice. “Granting refuge to a figure accused of such grave crimes would… send a dangerous message… that impunity is attainable,” the group emphasized.
The ICC has yet to decide on Duterte’s plea, but his lawyer Nicholas Kaufman claimed a third country had already given its “advance and principled agreement” to host the former president, who is now in his late 70s. Duterte’s camp argued that his advanced age, deteriorating health, and lack of current political power warrant humanitarian consideration.
Meanwhile, Rep. Duterte appealed to the public to offer prayers for his father. “He is already weak and old… his only dream right now is to return to his country and be with his family,” he said. “Let us continue to pray for FPRRD and that he may finally return to his country that he dearly loves and faithfully serves.”
Duterte’s controversial war on drugs left a deep imprint on the nation. While it earned praise from some sectors for its tough stance on narcotics, it also triggered condemnation from rights groups over the alleged extrajudicial killings. Several tragic cases, including the deaths of minors like Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz, and Reynaldo de Guzman, fueled public outrage and contributed to the ongoing international case against him.
