Duterte camp denies seeking suspension of ICC hearing on Sept. 23

The defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte denied that they are asking the pre-trial judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to suspend the confirmation of charges hearing set for September 23.

“The Defence has not asked to postpone the hearing on the confirmation of charges. The filing clearly stipulates that we have protested the administrative hurdles that have been placed in our way preventing us accessing and producing materials essential for the conduct of Mr. Duterte’s defence,” Duterte’s counsel Nicholas Kaufman said in a statement. 

In a four-page redacted notification to the Pre-Trial Chamber I dated July 18, Kaufman said they received “further” information concerning Duterte. Until such clarity from the new information, Duterte’s legal team notes that a confirmation of charges cannot be held as scheduled. 

“This [REDACTED] information is the much-awaited [REDACTED] by an unknown [REDACTED], selected by [REDACTED] and whose name and qualifications have not been disclosed to the Defence,” the document read. 

“For the sake of clarity, and in light of the newly received [REDACTED] information, the Defence formally notifies the Pre-Trial Chamber that it will raise the issue of [REDACTED] as a bar to the holding of a hearing on the confirmation of charges. The status conference requested would facilitate the procedure for allowing this matter to be litigated appropriately,” it further stated. 

The said notification was on top of the defense team’s request to the ICC to suspend its decision on his request for interim release, citing delays in obtaining what it described as essential information.

Duterte’s lawyers also earlier requested an “urgent” status conference on or before July 25 to help determine whether the current deadline before the supposed confirmation of charges hearing on September 23 is still on the table. 

ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti said that the family of the drug war victims are worried about the developments in the case.

“Victims and the public at large are concerned about the developments. We are also waiting if the court agrees to hold a status conference, as defense has requested, on or before July 25, 2025,” she said in a Facebook post. 

Further, Kaufman argued that there is a “crucial issue” that must be addressed first before proceeding with the confirmation of charges. 

“Any delays which have been or may be caused, as mentioned, cannot be attributed to the Defence,” he also said in the statement.

 "We firmly believe that there is a crucial issue which needs to be resolved before confirmation and have signaled our intention to raise this matter from day one. Everything that I am telling you is contained in the Defence’s public filings and I am not at liberty to explain further without breaching confidentiality requirements”.

Duterte is being held responsible for the drug war and is currently detained at Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison. 

Government records showed that there are over 6,000 drug suspects killed in police operations. Human rights organizations, however, estimate the death toll may have reached 30,000 due to unreported incidents. — BM, GMA Integrated News