Metro Manila, Philippines – The International Criminal Court (ICC) will hold its first status conference on the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte on May 27, a key procedural step that will set the direction of the trial.
The hearing will focus on organizing how the case will proceed rather than addressing the substance of the charges.
Duterte will not attend the conference after waiving his right to be present and authorizing his legal team to represent him.
The proceedings are expected to begin with preliminary matters, including updates on Duterte’s legal representation following recent changes in his defense team.
Judges will then move to the core of the agenda by tackling the timeline of the case, including a possible start date of the trial and deadlines leading up to it.
This will be followed by discussions on the prosecution’s evidence, including the estimated number of witnesses, documents, and other materials, as well as the use of expert witnesses and presentation methods such as audio-visual links.
The chamber is also expected to address agreed facts between the parties, which could help streamline the proceedings by narrowing down contested issues.
Next, the court will tackle language and translation requirements, including interpretation needs for witnesses and participants.
In a previous interview, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti said witnesses and victims may be speaking in Filipino, Bisaya, and Ilocano at some point of the trial.
A significant portion of the conference will focus on disclosure obligations, particularly the prosecution’s duty to share evidence with the defense and any updates on ongoing investigations.
Judges will then consider witness protection measures, including how to handle sensitive information and whether identities may be withheld or disclosed at a later stage.
The conference will also take up victim participation, including deadlines for applications and how victims may be represented in the proceedings.
Toward the end, the chamber will address pre-trial motions and other legal issues that must be resolved before the trial can begin.
The ICC said the status conference will be public, although parts may be held in private sessions to protect sensitive information, particularly concerning witnesses.
