Is Duterte unable to come to China? The ICC has set strict conditions, and Sara has designated allies to bring him home at any time.
The issue of whether former Philippine President Duterte will be allowed to be released and accepted by a third country has attracted widespread attention.
A lawyer recognized by the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently revealed the latest situation. The lawyer, named Butuyan, stated in a radio interview that the country that may host Duterte is a neighboring country of the Netherlands, and the host country must be an ICC member state that complies with ICC’s authorization.
It is reported that Duterte’s legal team has submitted a request for temporary release to the ICC, hoping to send him to a third country, and the prosecution has not expressed opposition in principle, but the premise is that all conditions set by the ICC must be met.
These conditions are said to be extremely harsh, and Butuyan confirmed this, pointing out that the conditions set by the ICC include: Duterte must not use a mobile phone or the internet, nor contact anyone other than family members.
Moreover, previous media reports indicated that the conditions Duterte must meet are likely more than this, he must stay away from politics and refrain from making statements, essentially living in isolation in exchange for a bit of relative freedom.
For the 80-year-old Duterte, being detained in The Hague means many things are beyond his control. Duterte’s current health condition is poor, and continuing to stay at the ICC, without pleading guilty, he may face endless long interrogations, which is a torment for him.His next hearing is scheduled for September 23.
Another point that must be mentioned is that in the detention center in The Hague, Duterte is in a state of lacking medical care and medication, and this issue cannot be resolved in the short term.This is very dangerous for him, as he suffers from multiple chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes; if not careful, Duterte may die far from home.
Rather than waiting to die here, it would be better to utilize the existing legal provisions of the ICC to find a relatively free place to spend his later years, where he can also receive medical care and treatment, and it would be convenient for his family to visit.
From the conditions proposed by the ICC for release, the possibility of Duterte returning to the Philippines is virtually nonexistent. Some have suggested bringing Duterte to China,which is not far from the Philippines and has similar living habits, plus Duterte himself has Chinese ancestry, spending the last phase of his life in China would also be a form of “returning to one’s roots.”
Unfortunately, the ICC has a strict requirement for third countries, which must be ICC member states, and China has not joined the ICC. Even if China is willing to accept Duterte, the ICC would not agree.
There are rumors that Duterte’s daughter Sara, during her visit to Malaysia, requested Imelda Marcos, who is also her close friend and ally, to find a way to be ready to bring her father back to the Philippines at any time.
Sara’s eagerness to bring her father home is understandable, but without President Marcos’s approval and the ICC’s release, it would be very difficult for Imelda alone to bring Duterte back to the country.