The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has been given a deadline of July 1 to disclose evidence for the upcoming confirmation of charges hearing against former president Rodrigo Duterte, set for September 23.
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber emphasized the need for timely disclosure to allow the defense to prepare adequately, adhering to the Rome Statute, which requires such transparency.
The prosecution’s evidence includes over 8,500 pages of documents, photographs, and audio-visual files, with a potential two witnesses to testify during the hearing.
Meanwhile, Duterte’s defense team has been unsuccessful in limiting the verification process for victims of his anti-drug campaign, as the court upheld a broad range of identification documents for victims’ participation.
The pre-trial chamber’s ruling also reinforced that the confirmation of charges process should remain focused on assessing whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial, not turning into a mini-trial itself.
Source: PhilNews24 | April 21, 2025
