Currently in ICC custody, '3rd nation' to host ex-Philippines President Duterte, says daughter

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – An undisclosed third country has agreed to host former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte if the International Criminal Court (ICC) grants him interim release, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday.

Speaking at a public event in Nagoya, Japan, Duterte said she had reached out to contacts she made in Southeast Asia during her time as Education Secretary, according to Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN on Monday.

She said a certain country was "willing" to accept Duterte following her discussions with these individuals. However, she did not name any country or people.

The Philippines’ vice president expressed concern that her 80-year-old father remains in the ICC detention facility despite his health issues.

She emphasized that Duterte simply wanted to return home to the Philippines and had no intention of going into hiding.

Earlier, Duterte's lawyers had told ICC that he is suffering from "significant cognitive deficiencies," according to an Aug. 18 defense request made public by the court earlier this month.

Duterte's condition will not improve and, "for this reason, the Pre-Trial Chamber must adjourn all legal proceedings in his case indefinitely," it said.

Duterte was arrested March 11 in Manila under an ICC warrant and flown to The Hague the same day.

He is accused of being responsible for thousands of deaths during his so-called war on drugs between 2016 and 2022.