Former President Rodrigo Duterte, held at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center, will spend Christmas away from his family. His legal team is seeking special permission for a Christmas visit on December 25 and 26, as regular family visits are not permitted during the court holidays. The defense is fighting for his right to be with his family, citing his age (80) and alleged cognitive difficulties as factors that diminish the risk of flight. "We believe the former president should be with his family on Christmas, and we will fight for that," said lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman. He encouraged supporters to show solidarity through non-disruptive means, like sending gifts. Kaufman dismissed the prosecution's claims about interference from Duterte's supporters, stating the former president has a large base of supporters who respect the ICC and would not interfere with the proceedings. The ICC's Appeals Chamber recently rejected the defense's request for interim release, upholding the order to keep him in detention pending trial for crimes against humanity.
