ICC prosecutors request admission of expert report and three witness statements in Duterte case

Prosecutors of the International Criminal Court filed two Rule 68(3) applications on October 23, seeking the admission of an expert report prepared by witness P-1400 and fifteen accompanying documents into the evidence record for the crimes-against-humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte. They propose a focused two-hour supplementary examination of the expert, arguing it will save roughly three hours of court time without harming the defendant’s rights, which his lawyers have not objected to in principle.

In a separate filing, the Office of the Prosecutor requested that the previously recorded testimonies of witnesses P-1155, P-1156 and P-1157, together with related materials, be admitted, noting that the statements are internally consistent and support allegations of murders and a policy to “neutralize” suspected criminals. All three witnesses would remain available for live questioning and cross-examination. The Chamber, composed of Judges Joanna Korner, Keebong Paek and Nicolas Guillou, has yet to decide on the requests before a final status conference scheduled for November 2, after which the trial is set to begin on November 30.