Following the ICC Appeals Chamber's March 6 decision upholding former president Rodrigo Duterte's detention, his Filipino legal team, led by Salvador Panelo, is planning to raise the court's jurisdiction issue at the United Nations. Panelo argues the ICC lacks authority over the case, emphasizing it is not a UN body.
Salvador Panelo, Duterte's former chief legal counsel, announced the strategy in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel, stating, "How can (the ICC) convict (former president Duterte) if it has no jurisdiction? That's why I am planning to bring the issue before the United Nations." He highlighted that the ICC is not part of the UN and aims to publicize any potential injustice from a conviction.
Panelo also contended that the case should be dismissed on its merits, criticizing the ICC's assumption of jurisdiction despite what he sees as a lack thereof.
This development comes after the ICC Appeals Chamber unanimously affirmed Pre-Trial Chamber I's January 26 order for Duterte's continued detention, rejecting arguments over a medical report (as detailed in prior coverage). Duterte, facing charges of crimes against humanity including murder linked to the Davao death squad and his anti-drug campaign, has been at the ICC detention center since his March 2025 arrest in the Philippines.
