Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has voiced strong opposition to the interim release request filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing the appeal as neither appropriate nor necessary.
“Well, we don’t think that it is an appropriate request. I think that the case should be heard as possible,” Remulla said during an interview with ANC’s Headstart on June 25.
The request, filed on June 12, seeks Duterte’s temporary release while awaiting trial for crimes against humanity over his controversial anti-drug campaign. His legal team cited his age, health concerns, and low risk of fleeing or committing further offenses. They also claimed the ICC prosecution had no objection to his transfer to an unspecified ICC state party.
However, the prosecution countered this, clarifying they had agreed only to a particular country—not the one Duterte’s defense proposed—and urged the court to deny the release. They warned that Duterte, who has repeatedly refused to recognize the court’s jurisdiction, may strongly resist arrest and still holds considerable political power. These factors, they argued, raise fears of witness tampering and obstruction of justice.
Remulla echoed these concerns and questioned the reasoning behind Duterte’s request to be moved to another country for medical care. “The way I look at it, the best medical care is already available in the Netherlands. And moving him might even cause a few more adjustments that would not be good for him,” he noted.
He stressed that waiting for the case to proceed is the right course of action. “So let’s just wait for the case to be heard, and let’s just stay put where he is right now.”
Remulla added that pursuing justice through the court process is not only the logical path forward but also the one that offers closure for victims. “Let’s leave it as it is and put more meaning to where we want to put more meaning to, which is the healing of the cases,” he said, adding that it’s time for families of victims to be freed from years of fear and impunity.
Remulla is among the Philippine officials who facilitated Duterte’s arrest and transfer to The Hague, Netherlands, in coordination with Interpol following the issuance of a red notice in March.
The ICC has scheduled Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing for September 23. Prosecutors are expected to present their evidence to support the trial, while Duterte’s legal team will argue for the dismissal of the charges.
