Lawyers of drug war victims to block possible Duterte move for interim release

The camp of drug war victims has said that they will block the interim release of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) should he apply for it, according to GMA Integrated News’ Mariz Umali’s report on Unang Balita.

“If there will be an application for interim release, the lawyers and victims are ready and able to give the views and concerns to actually tell the court to deny it,” Gilbert Andres, one of the victims’ lawyers, said.

Meanwhile, ICC assistant to counsel Atty. Kristina Conti said they will oppose the move as it will be “contrary to the victims’ interests as [Duterte] himself poses a threat.”     

This came after Duterte’s ICC-listed counsel Nicholas Kaufman said that their legal team plans to file a petition for Duterte's interim release.

Kaufman has also said that a provisional core team of lawyers is ready to start to work next week for the defense of Duterte.

Duterte is currently under the custody of the ICC following his arrest on March 11.

He appeared before the ICC for the first time on March 14 while his next hearing on the confirmation of his charges has been set for September 23. — Joaha Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News