ICC approves requests of Duterte camp, prosecution to add more evidence for confirmation of charges

The International Criminal Court (ICC) granted both the requests from the camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte and the prosecution to add more items of evidence for the confirmation of charges hearing next week regarding his controversial war on drugs.

In its decision dated February 20, 2026, Pre-Trial Chamber I granted “‘the Defence Second Request for Leave to Add Items to its List of Evidence’ and the Prosecution’s request to add fourteen items to its list of evidence.”

Prior to this, the Chamber had granted last February 10, 2026 the Defence’s and the Prosecution’s requests for leave to add items to their respective lists of evidence, of which the Defence and the Prosecution filed updated versions on February 13, 2026.

Then on February 18, 2026, the Defence requested “leave to add 108 items […] to its List of Evidence”, as it indicated inter alia that “the Prosecution has confirmed […] in inter partes communications that the addition of these [i]tems to the Defence List of Evidence causes it no prejudice.”

Further, on the same day, the Prosecution confirmed that “it does not object to the admission of the material listed in […] Annex A of the [Defence’s Request]’; and requested the Chamber “to admit […] fourteen items to the Prosecution’s List of Evidence’, clarifying that ‘[i]n the course of the inter partes communications, the Defence agreed that they would not Object”.

“Noting the limited extent of the requested additions, the nature of the material concerned and its relevance to the charges brought against the suspect, as well as the absence of objection from the parties and participants to both the Defence’s and Prosecution’s Requests, the Chamber considers that there is good cause to grant such requests without causing undue prejudice to either party,” the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I said.

“FOR THESE REASONS, THE CHAMBER HEREBY GRANTS the Defence’s Request and the Prosecution’s Request; and ORDERS the Defence and the Prosecution to file an updated list of evidence by no later than 20 February 2026 at 16:00,” it added.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I had granted Duterte's request to waive his right to attend his confirmation of charges hearing next week in connection with his war on drugs. —RF, GMA Integrated News