Metro Manila, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte may face trial for his crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) beginning Nov. 30 based on a proposal by prosecutors.
The prosecution panel said it expects to complete pre-trial preparations by Sept. 30, adding that the proposed timeline would make Duterte’s case “one of the fastest” to proceed to trial following the confirmation of charges.
According to the filing, prosecutors still need to complete reviewing evidence, finalizing investigations, preparing witness testimonies, and securing protective measures for witnesses.
The prosecution said it plans to rely on around 60 to 70 witnesses during trial, including insider witnesses, crime-base witnesses, and expert witnesses.
Around 25 to 30 witnesses are expected to testify live in court, while others may provide previously recorded testimony.
Prosecutors estimated that direct examination of witnesses could take up to 200 hours due to the scale of the case, which currently spans 49 separate incidents linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
The filing also said prosecutors are considering expert testimony on “the ‘War on Drugs’ in the Philippines,” police use of force, forensic science, and statistical analyses of drug war killings.
In addition, the prosecution said it plans to present hundreds of documentary and video evidence items, including public speeches and statements made by Duterte. Prosecutors said they have already identified around 197 speeches that may be used as evidence during trial.
