ICC seeks to admit prior testimony of key witness in Duterte case

The International Criminal Court’s prosecution submitted a document on September 7 seeking the Chamber’s approval to admit the previously recorded testimony of witness P-1100 in the proceedings against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. Citing Rule 68(3) of the ICC’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the prosecution argues that accepting the prior testimony would reduce the length of the witness’s direct examination from seven hours to two, thereby conserving at least five hours of court time.

The evidence is presented as relevant to the prosecution’s claims that Duterte directed a policy to "neutralise" alleged criminals through violent means, including murder, and that it sheds light on the modus operandi of the Davao Death Squad. The filing also requests a focused supplementary examination of the witness once he appears before the court. The trial is set to commence on November 30, 2026, following the ICC’s confirmation of crimes-against-humanity charges related to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and as president.