Evidence vs Duterte now more than 1,000
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) has already handed over 1,303 pieces of evidence to the camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte over the last seven months of 2025, including materials that could incriminate him in the killings linked to his war on drugs.
The OPT told the Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) I hearing the case that the evidence, turned over to the defense from July 7 to Dec. 18, included 906 that are deemed “INCRIM,” or incriminating; 389 are categorized as “Rule 77 evidence,” which the defense may inspect; and eight classified as “PEXO,” or potentially exonerating.
Without providing details, as the items are confidential, the OTP said the incriminating evidence included murder incidents during barangay clearance operations as well as the killings of “high-value targets” during Duterte’s presidency.
The document was signed by ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang.
The prosecution noted, however, that this batch of evidence disclosed after July 1 would not be used in the confirmation of charges hearings, which have yet to be rescheduled by the court after the original September dates were deferred.
Legal experts earlier said this is a key part of ICC proceedings that could significantly affect the case for both the prosecution and the defense.
Duterte is detained at the Scheveningen prison complex in The Hague, the Netherlands, while facing charges of murder as a crime against humanity over the brutal killings linked to his crackdown on narcotics.
Plea denied
The PTC released the tally of evidence after it rejected a defense plea to appoint an expert to report on “risk factors” related to his potential release.
The chamber ruled that an additional report is “neither appropriate nor necessary” for its upcoming periodic review of Duterte’s detention and said it already had sufficient information to decide.
“The Chamber finds that any additional expert report is neither appropriate nor necessary for its adjudication,” the five-page decision read.
“The Panel has fulfilled its mandate with the submission of the Panel’s Reports, which are available to the Defence and, should it wish to do so, can be referred to in its observations regarding the review of Mr. Duterte’s detention,” it added.
At the same time, the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPVC) told the court that “victims have expressed fears about their safety and the safety of their families, as well as concerns about the possible increase of violence in the neighborhoods in which they live.
OPCV Principal Counsel Paolina Massidda said in a pleading that the victims asked the court to keep the former leader in detention because Duterte’s influence is a threat to the integrity of the proceedings.
Duterte is detained in The Hague, the Netherlands, as he faces the prospect of a trial on crimes against humanity related to his administration’s drug war.
