THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested the official admission of previous testimonies and supporting documents from three key witnesses in the crimes against humanity case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Filed on November 3, the submission identifies the witnesses as P-0019, P-1032, and P-1409. Alongside the request to admit their prior statements into evidence, the prosecution has asked for authorization to conduct limited live supplemental questioning for each individual.
According to the filing, utilizing the previously recorded testimonies will streamline court proceedings. The measure is projected to reduce the direct examination time for the three witnesses from nine hours down to three hours, saving at least six hours of valuable court time.
The prosecution stated that these materials are vital for establishing the operations of the Davao Death Squad. The testimonies detail allegations regarding the systematic targeting of suspected criminals, extrajudicial killings, and the creation of an atmosphere of fear and impunity in Davao City.
Furthermore, portions of the accounts implicate Duterte by addressing his alleged awareness of and participation in the killings, including claims of direct orders and financial rewards distributed to perpetrators.
Under the prosecution’s proposal, each witness would undergo roughly one hour of supplemental questioning to clarify specific aspects of their prior statements.
The filing maintains that this approach respects due process and preserves Duterte’s rights, noting that the defense will retain full cross-examination opportunities, and the witnesses will remain accessible to questions from judges and other courtroom parties.
The application was formally submitted under Rule 68(3) of the ICC Rules of Procedure and Evidence, which governs the admission of prior recorded testimony. The court has yet to issue a ruling on the request.