THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS — The prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally requested Trial Chamber III to admit the pre-recorded testimonies of three extra witnesses for the crimes against humanity case involving former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Filed through a 12-page document signed by Acting Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, the Office of the Prosecutor argued that accepting the prior statements of witnesses P-0008, P-1164, and P-1303 will streamline the trial process by cutting down the length of their direct examinations.
The prosecution stressed that these statements are vital for establishing the broader context of the case and the alleged state policy targeting suspected criminals.
“The Three Witnesses’ evidence further goes to the proof of the contextual elements of crimes against humanity and to the policy to ‘neutralise’ through violent crimes, including murder, alleged criminals in the Philippines,” the prosecution stated.
Furthermore, the office assured that using recorded testimonies will not violate Duterte’s legal rights, noting that all three individuals will still be accessible for cross-examination by the defense team, the chamber, and other participating parties.
According to the filing, the witnesses gave their statements voluntarily during investigative interviews and verified that they experienced no issues regarding the conduct of those sessions.
Duterte is currently held in detention at the ICC facility in The Hague, Netherlands, ahead of his scheduled trial set to commence on November 30.