International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have filed a new batch of evidence against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, strengthening their case ahead of the scheduled confirmation of charges hearing this September.
In a document dated July 4, ICC prosecutors said they disclosed 1,253 new items of evidence to Duterte’s defense team on July 1. The disclosure is the 12th formal submission made by the prosecution and is structured into 10 distinct packages. Among the categories included are alleged operations of the Davao Death Squad during Duterte’s time as mayor, barangay clearance activities under his presidency, and actions targeting so-called high-value drug personalities.
The ICC document, citing court regulations, confirmed that one of its annexes was filed confidentially due to the presence of “sensitive witness information.”
This disclosure came in compliance with the pre-trial chamber’s order to submit all materials by July 1 in preparation for the upcoming confirmation hearing.
Duterte, 80, was arrested on March 11 upon arrival from Hong Kong. He was transferred to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day and made his first appearance before ICC judges via video link on March 14. The former president faces allegations of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors arguing that he orchestrated and supported death squads responsible for the murder of alleged drug offenders during his administration.
The defense has continued to seek Duterte’s interim release ahead of the next hearing set for September 23.
