Duterte ICC trial starts Nov. 30

National

THE trial of President Rodrigo Duterte over charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) will start Nov. 30.

ICC Trial Chamber III Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said the court intends to begin the proceedings “as soon as possible,” citing Duterte’s health condition and old age as important factors in scheduling the trial.

The former president faces charges of murder and attempted murder involving 49 incidents that allegedly led to the deaths of 76 individuals during the anti-drug campaign carried out under his administration.

In a report by Inquirer.net, prosecutors told the court they expect to complete all pretrial requirements, including the disclosure of evidence, by Sept. 30. However, Duterte’s defense team opposed holding the trial within the year, arguing that they need more time to review evidence and prepare their case.

Duterte’s lead defense counsel, Peter Haynes, said the legal team would only have a short period to examine the prosecution’s evidence if the trial proceeds in November.

Meanwhile, representatives of the drug war victims said they hoped the proceedings would begin sooner, stressing that many families have already waited years for justice. Still, they agreed that the November 30 schedule remains a reasonable timeline.

The court also discussed concerns involving interpreters and language translation for witnesses expected to testify during the trial. Prosecutors noted that many witnesses may not be fluent in English, requiring the assistance of interpreters in Filipino and other local languages.

Aside from scheduling matters, Duterte’s health condition was also raised during the hearing. His legal team requested another medical examination despite earlier assessments stating that he remains fit to participate in court proceedings.

The ICC Trial Chamber ordered prosecutors to submit a provisional list of witnesses and evidence by June 29, while additional hearings are scheduled in the coming months as preparations for the trial continue.(Shanice Kaye Ocio, CNU Comm Intern)