Counsel for drug war victims opposes Duterte release plea

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

FILE: CRY FOR JUSTICE. Families and supporters of those killed in the previous administration’s war on drugs gather along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City on March 11, 2025 following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court. The principal counsel of the Office of Public Counsel for Victims on Wednesday (June 25) asked the ICC to reject Duterte’s bid for interim release. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The principal counsel of the Office of Public Counsel for Victims has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reject former president Rodrigo Duterte’s request for an interim release.

In a court document released Wednesday night, Principal Counsel Paolina Massida said Duterte’s interim release, if granted, would “endanger victims.”

“The release of Mr. Duterte will not only be a great destabilizing factor to the volatile security situation in the country as a whole, but will pose a direct and significant danger to the victims who have demonstrated courage in applying to participate in the present proceedings in order to contribute to the search for the truth, despite risks of being threatened or otherwise stigmatized,” it read.

Her office argued that the court must “take appropriate measures to protect the safety, physical and psychological well-being, dignity and privacy of victims and witnesses.”

Duterte’s continued detention, it said, is the only way of ensuring that he will face trial.

“Indeed, victims are extremely concerned with the prospect that Mr. Duterte could be released, particularly because there is a real risk that they face threats from the Suspect and his supporters,” it added.

This submission follows a similar request from the Office of the Prosecutor for the ICC Pre-trial Chamber I to turn down Duterte’s plea.