Metro Manila, Philippines – The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has disclosed the evidence to the defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing murder charges related to crimes against humanity in his bloody drug war.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan made his first communication to the Pre-Trial Chamber I on the disclosure of evidence through a three-page document dated March 24.
Khan said the prosecution revealed “181 items” of evidence to the defense team on March 21, a week after Duterte’s first appearance in court.
“These items comprise the material cited in the Warrant of Arrest for Mr Rodrigo Roa
Duterte, with the exception of those items notified to the Chamber and the Defence in the Prosecution’s related application under regulation 35 of the Regulations of the Court, for which the disclosure deadline has been extended by the Chamber,” the document read.
The prosecution said it has applied for an extension in the “disclosure deadline for the arrest warrant materials of seven witnesses.”
“ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I… found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Duterte is individually responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder, allegedly committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019,” the ICC said of the prosecution’s material for the application of the arrest warrant.
Duterte was arrested via an ICC warrant coursed through the International Criminal Police Organization when he arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong on March 11.
He was turned over to the ICC on March 12.
The former chief executive’s children have challenged the arrest with the Supreme Court and have petitioned for the release of their father.
