Prosecution asks ICC to include prior testimonies of 5 witnesses in Rodrigo Duterte case

The Prosecution in the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte on Friday asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III to allow the prior recorded testimonies of five witnesses as evidence.

In a 12-page document, a redacted version of which was posted on the ICC website, ICC Acting Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang requested that they be allowed to submit the transcripts and associated material of witnesses P-1087, P-1151, P-1158, P-1161, and P-1204 (referred to as Five Witnesses).

"Granting the request will enhance the expeditiousness of the proceedings by reducing the length of the witnesses’ direct examination from [REDACTED] hours to [REDACTED] hours, thus saving at least [REDACTED] hours of court time," Niang said.

The Five Witnesses' prior recorded testimonies are relevant, reliable, and probative, he added.

"As [REDACTED], the Five Witnesses provide evidence on [REDACTED]. As such, their evidence is particularly relevant to the policy to ‘neutralise’ through violent crimes, including murder, alleged criminals in the Philippines and to [REDACTED] to implement this policy," Niang said.

"The introduction into evidence of the Prior Recorded Testimonies is not prejudicial to or inconsistent with the rights of the Accused, as the Five Witnesses will be available for cross examination by the Defence and any further questioning by the Chamber, the parties, and the Common Legal Representatives of Victims (the “CLRV”)," he added.

Overview

The Prosecution gave an overview of the Five Witnesses' testimonies.

P-1087, during his two-day interview, described "how killings were normalised [REDACTED] during Mr Duterte’s presidency. Specifically, he notes that the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte list ('PRRD list') list provided officers with a feeling of impunity11 and that Mr Duterte’s speeches contributed to a culture in which killing was normalised."

P-1151 described "the killings perpetrated by the PNP", the Operation Double Barrel, and the PRRD list. The witness also discussed the rewards system for police officers involved in killings.

P-1158 also gave proof of the policy to ''neutralize" alleged criminals in the Philippines and Duterte's individual criminal responsibility.

P-1161 discussed Duterte's involvement in the PRRD list.

P-1204 meanwhile described the changes within the PNP after Duterte became president.

Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity in connection with the alleged extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs during his term as president, and during his term as mayor of Davao City.

He was arrested in March 2025 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 and is currently detained at the ICC Detention Centre in Scheveningen in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Duterte's trial will start on Nov. 30.

The ICC Trial Chamber III found fDuterte fit to stand trial, stating that he “is able to effectively exercise his fair trial rights in the proceedings.” —KG, GMA News