The International Criminal Court (ICC) has outlined the operational schedule for the first block of evidentiary hearings in the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte, which commences on November 30. Prosecutors are set to present their core evidence and witnesses for the ongoing crimes against humanity case.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner announced that the court will execute four daily sessions, equating to four hours of active judicial proceedings each day, exclusive of mandatory intervals and a one-hour lunch recess.
Converted to Philippine Standard Time, the adjusted timetable is structured as follows:
- First Session: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by a 30-minute break.
- Second Session: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., leading into a one-hour lunch recess.
- Third Session: 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., followed by a 30-minute interval.
- Fourth Session: 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
In preparation for the upcoming testimonies, approximately 29 witnesses are lined up to provide evidence remotely via video or audio-visual links.
Additionally, the prosecution plans to introduce seven further applications under Rule 68(3) before the end of November to further consolidate its case framework against the former chief executive.
Parallel to these measures, ICC Trial Chamber III has allocated a total of 150 hours for the prosecution to formally present and examine its evidence pool during the trial proper.