ICC grants prosecution's deadline extension request for submission of documents in Duterte case
The International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber I has granted the prosecution's request to extend the deadline for the submission of victims' documents in former president Rodrigo Duterte's crimes against humanity case.
In a five-page decision on May 20, the ICC chamber said it extended the time limit for the disclosure of the arrest warrant materials related to a number of witnesses to July 1 from May 9, which was an extension of the original March 21 deadline.
"[T]he Prosecution disclosed the Arrest Warrant Materials relating to some of the abovementioned witnesses, and filed the Request seeking that the Chamber extend (i) ‘the deadline to disclose the materials from the [remaining] witnesses […] that are cited in the Warrant of Arrest’ until 1 July 2025," the chamber said, adding that the final deadline for the application to withhold the identity of witnesses is until June 20.
The defense and the Office of Public Counsel for the Victims didn't oppose the prosecution's request, the chamber noted.
In granting the deadline extension, the chamber said the prosecution’s submission, though it "does not presently assess that it will be required to submit requests to the Chamber for the non-disclosure of the identities of the [Relevant] Witnesses," it "assesses that the immediate disclosure of their identities would give rise to an objective risk to their safety."
The chamber also extended the time limit for any applications for redactions not falling into the standard categories, non-disclosure of witnesses’ identities, or non-disclosure of entire items of evidence until June 16.
It also "instructs the Prosecution to conclude, in consultation with the Victims and Witnesses Unit... the risk assessments and implementation of measures to protect witnesses and persons at risk by the same date."
"Should the VWU wish to submit observations on any such applications, it shall do so by no later than 16 June 2025," it added. "Finally, any responses to such applications shall be submitted, if any, by no later than 20 June 2025."
Duterte has been at the ICC since March 12.
He was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 following a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC via the International Criminal Police Organization.
He has been accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Roman Statute."
Specifically, he was allegedly involved in the murder of at least 19 persons reported to be drug pushers or thieves who were killed by members of the Davao Death Squad in various locations in or around Davao City between 2011 and 2016, as well as the murder of at least 24 alleged criminals who were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines law enforcement at various locations in the country between 2016 and 2019 during his term as president.
He could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
His pre-trial hearing is on Sept. 23, 2025. If the charges against him are confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.
