MANILA, Philippines — Congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima on Friday dismissed former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bid for interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying it is highly unlikely to be granted.

“The grant of Duterte’s application for interim release has a snowball’s chance in hell,” De Lima said in a statement.

De Lima questioned the motives behind the petition, saying Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, is simply trying to prove his worth to his client and maintain the morale of Duterte’s supporters for the political survival of the Duterte dynasty.

On June 12, Kaufman filed a request before the ICC, asking that Duterte be allowed interim release to an undisclosed country which, he claimed, has agreed to host the former president while proceedings continue at The Hague. The unnamed country is reportedly a state party to the Rome Statute.

Kaufman argued that Duterte poses no flight risk, would not violate the terms of his release, and would be living “well outside the geographic scope of the alleged crimes.”

“The prosecution has confirmed its non-opposition to interim release,” Kaufman added, provided certain conditions are met.

But De Lima warned the ICC is unlikely to risk releasing Duterte, whom she described as someone who “recognizes no law, respects no court, and honors no agreement.” She said the former president’s release could potentially derail the entire case.

“The ICC knows that once they do, Duterte is most likely not coming back to The Hague,” she said.

Duterte has been detained at the ICC Detention Centre in Scheveningen since March. The Pre-Trial Chamber I is expected to decide on the release request after reviewing submissions from the prosecution and the legal representatives of the victims.