The legal team of former President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to overturn a ruling that keeps him in detention.
The lawyers arguing that judges failed to consider medical evidence pointing to his worsening health.
In a six-page notice of appeal dated January 28 and filed before the ICC Appeals Chamber, Duterte’s defense team sought his immediate interim release under conditions to be guaranteed by a state party.
The defense claimed that Pre-Trial Chamber I committed errors of law and fact when it declined to consider a medical report submitted by Duterte’s lawyers.
According to the filing, the report details the former president’s deteriorating physical condition and compromised cognitive state factors the chamber was required to weigh during its periodic review of his detention.
The defense also argued that by refusing to assess the medical report, the chamber failed to determine whether changed circumstances existed that could affect the necessity of continued detention.
On January 26, Pre-Trial Chamber I ruled that there remain reasonable grounds to believe Duterte committed crimes within the ICC’s jurisdiction.
The chamber also found that he is fit to participate in pre-trial proceedings related to crimes against humanity charges stemming from deaths linked to his anti-drug campaign during his tenure as president and earlier as mayor of Davao City.
The ICC also denied Duterte’s request for an indefinite adjournment and scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing to begin on February 23, 2026.
Duterte is detained by ICC for charges of crimes against humanity linked to killings during his administration’s war on drugs.
