ICC rejects plea to free Philippine ex-leader Duterte

The International Criminal Court ruled on Friday that the Philippines' 80-year-old former President Rodrigo Duterte must remain detained despite a defence appeal for his release on grounds of age and declining health.

Duterte, president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested and taken to The Hague in March over murders during his war on drugs when thousands of alleged narcotics peddlers and users were killed.

The appeals judges shot down one request for provisional release on health grounds, meaning he will have to stay in court detention to await a possible trial.

However, Duterte's lawyers have also filed several other motions to get the entire case dismissed. They say his arrest was unlawful and say the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines which left the court in 2019.