ICC prosecutor wants 5 more testimonies admitted

Photos courtesy of the International Criminal Court show former president Rodrigo Duterte during his first in-person appearance before the tribunal since his arrest in March 2025.

Photos / ICC | via Janvic Mateo

MANILA, Philippines — An International Criminal Court (ICC) deputy prosecutor has requested five more prior recorded testimonies of witnesses to be admitted in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The request filed on Friday brings the total number to nine. The ICC Trial Chamber III has so far accepted the prior recorded testimony of one witness.

In its latest filing, deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang requested the admission of the testimonies of witnesses identified as P-1087, P-1151, P-1158, P-1161 and P-1204.

The prior testimonies were described as “relevant, reliable and probative.”

Witness P-1087 testified “how killings were normalized (redacted) during Mr. Duterte’s presidency. Specifically, he notes that the president Rodrigo Roa Duterte list (PRRD list) provided officers with a feeling of impunity and that Mr. Duterte’s speeches contributed to a culture in which killing was normalized.”

P-1151 described “the killings perpetrated by the PNP,” the Operation Double Barrel and the PRRD list. The witness also discussed the rewards system for police officers involved in killings; P-1158 gave proof of the policy to “neutralize” alleged criminals in the Philippines and Duterte’s individual criminal responsibility; P-1161 discussed Duterte’s involvement in the PRRD list and P-1204 described the changes within the PNP after Duterte became president.

“Their evidence is particularly relevant to the policy to ‘neutralize’ through violent crimes, including murder, alleged criminals in the Philippines,” the filing read.

Even if their prior recorded testimonies are accepted by the judges, all five witnesses will still be presented in person for supplementary examination.

“The introduction of the five witnesses’ prior recorded testimonies into evidence would not be prejudicial to or inconsistent with the rights of the accused, as the defense will have ample opportunity to cross-examine them,” the prosecution said.

“The defense has been notified of the prosecution’s intention to call these witnesses… and have adequate time to prepare for their cross-examination,” it added.

Niang said granting the request “will enhance the expeditiousness of the proceedings.”

During the case’s fourth status conference on Oct. 13, ICC presiding judge Joanna Korner urged the prosecution to re-examine its list of witnesses to further trim down the expected length of the trial.

Trial lawyer Edward Jeremy said the prosecution has reclassified some of its intended witnesses, including filing a request for admission of prior recorded testimony to streamline their presentation.

Duterte’s defense lawyer Peter Haynes has repeatedly called out what it described as “sheer volume of material” disclosed by the prosecution.

The trial will commence on Nov. 30, with the final status conference set on Nov. 2.

Duterte is charged with alleged extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs as Philippine president and mayor of Davao City. He was arrested in Manila in November 2025 and has been detained in The Hague, The Netherlands.