The International Criminal Court's Appeals Chamber unanimously upheld the decision keeping former president Rodrigo Duterte in detention in The Hague, Netherlands. This is not a reclusion perpetua sentence as claimed in a viral video. The decision was issued on March 6, 2026.
On March 6, 2026, the ICC's Appeals Chamber issued its decision confirming Pre-Trial Chamber 1's ruling to deny Rodrigo Duterte's appeal for interim release. The press release noted that the defense's medical report contained no new information on Duterte's health, as the selected practitioners had not conducted a new examination. It also affirmed the fairness of the pre-trial proceedings. Consequently, Duterte remains detained in The Hague pending the confirmation of charges hearing, to be decided within 60 days, where judges may confirm charges if evidence suffices, decline them, or adjourn for further investigation. Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, over alleged crimes against humanity from his administration's drug war, with human rights groups citing over 30,000 victims. A video posted on March 8, 2026, with 45,017 views, misrepresented reports from GMA News’ Saksi and ABS-CBN’s DZMM Teleradyo as indicating a life imprisonment or reclusion perpetua sentence. In Saksi, anchor Mariz Umali stated: “Former president Rodrigo Duterte will remain in detention in The Hague, Netherlands. This is after the appeals chamber of the ICC... upheld the previous decision of Pre-Trial Chamber 1 that Duterte remain there.” Neither report mentioned a sentence. Reclusion perpetua under the Philippines' Revised Penal Code is 20 years and one day to 40 years, distinct from life imprisonment; the ICC may impose up to 30 years or life.
