ICC prosecution seeks admission of 5 more recorded testimonies in Duterte case

MANILA, Philippines — The prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has actually asked judges to confess the formerly tape-recorded statements of 5 more witnesses in previous president Rodrigo Duterte’s criminal offenses versus mankind case, mentioning their accounts of supposed killings and a supposed policy of reducing the effects of thought bad guys.

In a public redacted application launched on Oct. 16, 2026, the prosecution asked Trial Chamber III to confess the interview records and supporting products of witnesses recognized as P-1087, P-1151, P-1158, P-1161 and P-1204 under Rule 68( 3) of the ICC’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

The demand is the current in a series of prosecution efforts to present formerly tape-recorded witness accounts, following an earlier application including 3 witnesses and a court judgment enabling the taped statement of another witness to be confessed.

On Oct. 2, the chamber gave the prosecution’s demand to present the composed declaration of witness P-1100 under Rule 68( 3 ). The judgment marked the very first choice on the prosecution’s usage of the treatment in Duterte’s case.

The prosecution had actually submitted its application worrying P-1100 on Sept. 7, looking for to reduce the witness’s direct assessment from 7 hours to 2 hours while maintaining the defense’s chance to cross-examine him.

Individually, the prosecution on Oct. 7 looked for to present the formerly taped statements of 3 other witnesses– P-1370, P-1393 and P-1416– under Rule 68( 2 )(b).

The most recent application, dated Oct. 12, issues 5 extra witnesses and looks for consent for restricted extra questioning of each in court.

The prosecution stated its accounts pertained to developing a supposed policy to “reduce the effects of” thought bad guys through violent criminal activities, consisting of murder, in the Philippines. Their testaments might likewise assist develop Duterte’s private criminal duty, including his supposed understanding and intent, it stated.

In the general public filing, witness P-1087 supposedly explained how killings were stabilized throughout Duterte’s presidency. The witness stated Duterte’s speeches added to a culture in which killing was stabilized which a list of presumed wrongdoers related to the previous president offered policeman a sensation of impunity.

Experience P-1151’s tape-recorded testament covered supposed killings by authorities, Operation Double Barrel, the so-called PRRD list and a supposed system of benefits, consisting of financial rewards, for policeman associated with killings.

The witness likewise apparently gone over Duterte’s consultations of workers to positions thought about vital to the supposed criminal offenses, in addition to public declarations motivating the killing of presumed wrongdoers.

Information of the testaments of P-1158 and P-1161 were thoroughly edited in the general public variation. The prosecution stated their accounts related to developing the supposed policy and Duterte’s specific criminal duty.

See P-1204 apparently explained modifications within the Philippine National Police after Duterte presumed the presidency and offered accounts of other killings, a few of which the prosecution acknowledged were rumor.

The prosecution preserved that the 5 witnesses’ tape-recorded testaments were internally constant and substantiated or supplemented proof anticipated from other witnesses who would affirm in court.

It argued that confessing the records would accelerate the procedures by lowering the time needed for direct evaluation. The approximated hours to be conserved were edited in the general public filing.

The prosecution stated the proposed treatment would not bias Duterte’s rights since the witnesses would stay offered for interrogation by the defense and questioning by the judges, district attorneys and victims’ legal agents.

The witnesses would be asked whether they granted the admission of their taped accounts. The celebrations and the chamber would likewise have the chance to analyze them and observe their behavior throughout statement.

The prosecution stated the interviews were performed throughout its examination under the Rome Statute and the ICC’s guidelines. The witnesses were notified that their interviews were voluntary and of their rights, and they verified that they comprehended the treatment and accepted continue.