Prosecution discloses to ICC, defense counsel evidence against Duterte

The Office of the Prosecutor has disclosed to the International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber 1 and defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte the evidence for the crimes against humanity charges filed against the former state leader.

In the Prosecution's First Communication of the Disclosure of Evidence dated March 24, Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan said that, on March 21, "the prosecution disclosed to the defense 181 items organised under Pre-Confirmation INCRIM package 001, listed in Confidential Annex A."

He added the items compromised the material cited in the warrant of arrest against Duterte except items notified to the chamber and the defense in the prosecution's related applications.

“These items comprise the material cited in the Warrant of Arrest for Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte with the exception of those items notified to the Chamber and the Defence in the Prosecution’s related application under regulation 35 of the Regulations of the Court, for which the disclosure deadline has been extended by the Chamber,” the document read.

Philippine authorities on March 11 assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in serving a warrant of arrest from the ICC against Duterte for crimes against humanity in connection with his drug war.

After his arrest, Duterte was brought to the Hague in the Netherlands.

Duterte on March 13 (Philippine time) entered the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison where he is set to be held while awaiting trial.

The next hearing on the confirmation of the charges has been set for September 23, 2025.

The warrant of arrest against Duterte was signed by presiding Judge Iulia Motoc, Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou, and Judge Maria del Socorro Flores Liera.

Duterte’s ICC-listed counsel Nicholas Kaufman earlier said that their legal team plans to file a petition for Duterte's interim release.

Kaufman has also said that a provisional core team of lawyers is ready to start to work next week for the defense of Duterte.

The camp of drug war victims, on the other hand, has said that they will block the interim release of Duterte before the ICC should he apply for it.

ICC spokesperson Dr. Fadi El Abdallah told GMA Integrated News that the Philippines has to accept technical measures and conditions for the judges to order the potential interim release of Duterte.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News