I have barely slept since last week. Every night, I pray for justice. This is the best birthday gift my son Daboy could ever receive
Dahlia Cuartero, mother of drug war victim Jesus “Daboy” Cuartero, after hearing that the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber denied Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release.
Cuartero joined other families affected by the drug war at the University of the Philippines College of Law, watching the livestream of the ICC Appeals Chamber’s decision on November 28, 2025. A panel of five judges quickly rejected the appeal, ending Duterte’s hopes for release. Dozens of victims and their families watched the proceedings and applauded each time the judge said “denied” or “rejected.” Human rights groups and advocates also showed their support.
The ICC Appeals Chamber unanimously rejected Duterte’s appeal and confirmed the September 26 decision of the tribunal’s Pre-Trial Chamber against Duterte’s interim release. An interim release allows ICC detainees temporary freedom, but only if they prove they are not a flight risk, unlikely to reoffend, and will not interfere with the investigation. Even then, strict conditions apply, such as isolation in a country far from where the alleged crimes happened.
In early October, the pre-trial chamber rejected the request, which led Duterte to appeal to the appeals chamber. The appeals chamber fully supported the pre-trial chamber’s decision, saying that Duterte’s defense team did not show any errors in the earlier ruling.
Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, said that winning the ‘long-shot’ attempt for the former president’s interim release would have been a miracle if the International Criminal Court had approved it. Legal experts note that no one has ever been released by this court for crimes against humanity.
“Ngayon ngang nakakulong siya ay patuloy ang harassment na nararanasan namin at ng aming mga taga-suporta mula sa DDS supporters. Nagpapakalat sila ng mga pekeng impormasyon, binabansagan kaming sinungaling, pamilya ng mga adik at kung ano-ano pang masasakit na salita. Gusto nilang tumigil kami sa paggigiit ng hustiya,” said Dahlia Cuartero. (Even though he [Duterte] is in jail now, we continue to face harassment from Duterte supporters. They propagate fake information, they brand us as liars, family of drug addicts and other hurtful claims. They want us to stop in our fight for justice.)
She described how constant online attacks have targeted families of those killed in the drug war. Even the victims’ lawyers and supporters have faced many false accusations and insults, adding to the emotional and mental stress.
Progressive groups welcomed the ICC decision, saying it gives new hope to families and their supporters and brings more attention to the search for justice. They also noted that victims have already waited a long and painful time for Duterte’s trial to start. “The struggle is not over, but this decision keeps the process moving and gives victims some assurance that Duterte is in prison,” they added.
Duterte has been held at the United Nations Detention Unit, also called Scheveningen Prison, in The Hague, the Netherlands, since his arrest in Manila last March.