Malacanang said it will respect the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning a request from the lawyer of former President Rodrigo Duterte for interim release to a third country since he is not a flight risk.

''It's now up to the ICC to decide what their decision or resolution will be,'' said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a Palace briefing Friday.

The former President has been detained in the Netherlands for three months where he will faces charges of crimes against humanity during his war on drugs.

ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti said in a radio interview that Duterte's lawyer application for interim release was like ''being doused with cold water.''

Conti said this was her feeling when Duterte's counsel said prosecutors will not block the petition for interim release.

''We will consult with the victims (of Duterte's war on drugs) but the last time we talked was they do not favor any special treatment for Duterte,'' Conti told dzBB. DMS