Guess what? Former President Rodrigo Duterte, who used to lead the Philippines, is now facing trial in a big international court called the International Criminal Court (ICC). This court looks into serious crimes like hurting people or being unfair to groups.
Now, Duterte is asking if he can move to another country temporarily while the trial is still going on. Why? He says he’s old (he’s 80 years old!) and has health problems. He says staying where he is could make him even sicker.
🧑⚖️ A lawyer who knows a lot about international rules said it’s possible. He explained that there’s a special rule (called Rule 119) that lets someone like Duterte ask to stay in another country for medical or safety reasons, as long as it doesn’t mess up the trial.
In fact, this has been allowed before! Other people on trial, like leaders from Africa and Europe, were also allowed to move because they were very sick or needed special care.
But ⚠️ some groups are very angry about Duterte’s request. A group called 1Sambayan said it’s a “huge insult” to the people who were hurt during his war on drugs. They believe letting him go — even for a short while — is dangerous because he might scare or hurt people who are helping with the case.
😟 They think Duterte could use this chance to talk to people secretly and even cause trouble. That’s why they want the ICC to say no to his request.
Meanwhile, Duterte’s team says he’s not trying to run away. They say he just needs better medical care and that he promises to come back for trial. A different country has already offered to host him if the ICC says yes — but we don’t know which one yet.
💡 Here’s the twist: The country must be close to the Netherlands (where the ICC is based) and must follow all ICC rules. Duterte’s defense also promised he won’t use the internet, won’t talk to the public, and will only speak with close family members while he’s out.
So now, everyone is waiting for the court’s decision. Will they say yes and let Duterte go to another country? Or will they say no to protect the victims and make sure justice is served?
Stay tuned. This is a big deal. 🧑⚖️⚖️
