The legal team of former President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will release a decision within a month on their request for his temporary freedom.
According to his lead lawyer, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, the ICC should act quickly based on the rules of the Rome Statute.
The defense also plans to ask for permission to respond to the prosecution’s arguments against Duterte’s temporary release. The prosecution is against it because Duterte might move to another country.
Kaufman said he respects the ICC judges even though their request to remove two judges from the case was denied. These judges were involved in the earlier investigation of the drug war.
He admitted that Duterte’s team wanted him to return to the Philippines even for a short time, but the government clearly will not allow it.
Kaufman refused to confirm reports that Belgium and Australia rejected Duterte’s stay. He said there may have been confusion in the information.
He also denied suggestions that Duterte could ask for legal protection under the Netherlands’ laws while being held by the ICC. This idea was earlier mentioned by some Filipino lawyers.