ICC rejects release bid from ex-Philippines president Duterte

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte will remain in the custody of the International Criminal Court after judges Friday rejected a request from his defence team for release on medical grounds.

"The Chamber finds that Mr Duterte's detention continues to remain necessary," the ICC said in its ruling.

ICC prosecutors have charged Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders as part of his "war on drugs."

The first count concerns his alleged involvement as a co-perpetrator in 19 murders carried out between 2013 and 2016 while Duterte was mayor of Davao City.

The second count relates to 14 murders of so-called "High Value Targets" in 2016 and 2017 when Duterte was president.

And the third charge is about 43 murders committed during "clearance" operations of lower-level alleged drug users or pushers.

These took place across the Philippines between 2016 and 2018, the prosecution alleged.

Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11, flown to the Netherlands that same night and has been held at the ICC's detention unit at Scheveningen Prison since.

He followed his initial hearing by video link, appearing dazed and frail and barely speaking.

His lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has said Duterte is not able to stand trial "as a result of cognitive impairment in multiple domains".

Kaufman has urged the ICC to postpone proceedings against Duterte indefinitely. 

AFP