ICC rejects to release Philippine ex-leader Duterte

THE HAGUE, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The International Criminal Court rejected an appeal on Friday to release the former Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte on grounds of age and declining health.

"The humanitarian grounds advanced by the defense were not sufficiently set out in the case at hand," Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza, presiding ICC judge, said.

Duterte, who served as president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, was detained and transferred to the ICC in March following an arrest warrant over his controversial "war on drugs" campaign, a move he has challenged.

A ruling in October rejected claims by his defense that the ICC was not competent to judge Duterte on three charges of crimes against humanity, meaning he will have to stay in court detention to await a possible trial.

The initial appearance of Duterte, born in 1945, took place on March 14. ICC postponed the commencement of the confirmation hearing in the case on Sept. 8, and the defense's requests for the interim release of Duterte were rejected on Sept. 26. ■