Former Senator and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Representative Leila de Lima has lauded the International Criminal Court (ICC) for rejecting former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release.
The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber on Friday, October 10, formally denied Duterte’s plea for humanitarian release.
“The Chamber, therefore, considers that the defence’s argument that Mr. Duterte should be released for humanitarian reasons must be rejected,” the ICC ruling stated.
De Lima welcomed the swift decision, saying it reflected the strength of the evidence against the former president.
“That was quick. We welcome the rejection of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber of Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release,” she said in a post on X.
“The swift denial of Duterte’s plea for interim release is not a surprise. The plea lacks support both in fact and in the Rome Statute. The ICC does not easily issue warrants of arrest without any inkling of the weight of the evidence. In the case of Duterte, the evidence is strong enough for the ICC to require his detention during trial. This denial is an indication of the strength of the evidence against Duterte,” she added.
The former lawmaker stressed that the ICC remains impartial and firm in its pursuit of justice.
“Expectedly, as a no-nonsense court, the ICC will spare no sacred cows. It will not show favor to anyone, and will only listen to reason and side with what is just and right,” De Lima said.
She also urged continued support for witnesses and victims of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, saying their testimonies are vital to achieving accountability.
“We also saw how influential Duterte still is in the country. That’s why as we continue to call for justice and accountability, we should also protect the witnesses and encourage other victims of the murderous ‘War on Drugs’ to speak out and join our fight,” she emphasized.
De Lima concluded her statement by reaffirming her resolve to hold those responsible for crimes against humanity to account.
“Patuloy nating palakasin ang ating laban para mapanagot ang pasimuno at ang lahat ng kasabwat sa krimen laban sa sangkatauhan—ang walang habas na pagpatay sa libo-libong Pilipino, kasama na ang mga inosenteng bata,” she declared.
De Lima, known as Duterte’s fiercest critic, led the 2009 investigation into extrajudicial killings in Davao City while serving as Chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). She was later imprisoned in 2017 under Duterte’s administration over drug trafficking allegations — charges that were dismissed in 2024 after witnesses recanted their testimonies, leading to her release.