International Criminal Court prosecutors drop 253 evidence items in Rodrigo Duterte case
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors removed 253 items from their evidence list in the crimes against humanity case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte following a review, ABS-CBN reported. Trial Chamber III received the updated, publicly redacted filing on October 12, 2026, which restructures the prosecution’s evidence into seven distinct categories to clarify the materials relied upon for trial.
Seven evidence categories submitted to Trial Chamber III
The revised evidence submission groups materials into trial brief citations, witness-related items, speeches by Duterte and alleged co-perpetrators, datasets, non-governmental organization files, open-source materials, and miscellaneous evidence. ABS-CBN reported that the prosecution identified materials cited in its trial brief and annexes as the key items anchoring its case. The dropped 253 items were culled after a review following a September status conference before Trial Chamber III, which comprises Presiding Judge Joanna Korner, Judge Keebong Paek, and Judge Nicolas Guillou.
Pending defense agreements and police record datasets
The prosecution disclosed that nearly 7,000 additional evidence items could be removed if the defense agrees to proposed facts regarding a specific collection of evidence. ABS-CBN reported that the current filing includes a dataset of Philippine National Police records detailing killings during anti-drug operations and other drug-related deaths within the timeframe specified in the charges. Because the document contains sensitive information regarding witnesses and sources, the prosecution submitted the unredacted filing confidentially on October 6 before releasing the redacted public version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific charges does Rodrigo Duterte face at the ICC?
Rodrigo Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity connected to his administration’s controversial war on drugs, which remain allegations subject to judicial determination by the court.
Who serves on the ICC panel overseeing the Duterte proceedings?
Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court is composed of Presiding Judge Joanna Korner, Judge Keebong Paek, and Judge Nicolas Guillou.
When was the updated evidence list officially filed?
The prosecution submitted the updated evidence list to the chamber confidentially on October 6, 2026, followed by a public redacted filing on October 12, 2026.
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