Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed doubts about the possibility of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, being released from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and returning to the Philippines.
The ICC has been investigating former President Duterte’s involvement in alleged human rights abuses and crimes against humanity during his term, particularly in relation to his administration’s war on drugs.
According to Vice President Duterte, the chances of her father being released from the ICC are slim. She cited the complexity of the cases and the international court’s procedures, which often take years to resolve.
The Vice President’s statement comes amid ongoing efforts by the Philippine government to defend former President Duterte against the ICC’s allegations. The government has maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the former president, citing the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
However, the ICC has argued that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the treaty does not affect its jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.
The cases against former President Duterte are ongoing, with the ICC expected to make a decision on whether to proceed with a full investigation in the coming months.
