The Manila Times
THE International Criminal Court (ICC) said it would establish a digital case-management system for the trial of former president Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity related to his drug war. This comes as prosecutors and defense lawyers press competing proposals aimed at shaping how evidence and witness testimony will be handled when proceedings begin later this year. In separate filings before Trial Chamber III, the ICC Registry, the Office of the Prosecutor, and Duterte’s defense team outlined recommendations on case management, evidentiary procedures, witness testimony, and trial safeguards as the court prepares for the opening of trial on Nov. 30, 2026. The ICC Registry proposed the use of its Judicial Workflow Platform, an electronic system designed to centralize the management of evidence, witness information, and court records throughout the proceedings. According to the Registry, the platform would allow judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and legal representatives of victims to access case materials through a single database, helping ensure that all participants work from a consolidated record while reducing the risk of misplaced documents and improving the presentation of evidence during trial. Registry officials said demonstrations of the platform have already been conducted for Duterte’s defense team, prosecutors and lawyers representing victims as preparations for trial continue. Beyond the digital system, the Registry recommended adopting procedures used in previous ICC cases for producing public redacted versions of hearing transcripts. It said those procedures have proven effective in balancing transparency with the protection of sensitive information. The Registry proposed a standardized mechanism for requesting additional transcript redactions after hearings, requiring parties to clearly identify proposed redactions and submit requests electronically through designated forms. To improve the accuracy of court records, it urged the chamber to implement a transcript verification process previously used in another ICC case, saying the approach had facilitated timely corrections and improved recordkeeping. The filing further addressed procedures for in-court redactions, noting that delays can arise when requests are exchanged through email during hearings. The Registry proposed requiring parties to submit redaction requests no later than 12 minutes after the relevant information is disclosed in court, while other participants would have 4 minutes to raise objections. The recommendations were submitted in response to directions issued by the chamber during its first status conference and are expected to help shape the rules governing Duterte’s trial. At the same time, prosecutors asked the chamber to extend deadlines for several pre-trial applications involving witness testimony and protective measures. In observations filed before the chamber, Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang requested that applications concerning prior recorded testimony and witness protection be accepted on a rolling basis through October 2026 rather than under the tighter deadlines used in a previous ICC case. The prosecution argued that the request was necessary because it is simultaneously working to complete evidence disclosure, submit its trial brief, and finalize witness and evidence lists by Aug. 31, 2026 — a deadline that is one month earlier than prosecutors had originally proposed. Specifically, the prosecution asked that applications under Rule 68(2), which governs the admission of prior recorded testimony, be filed by Sept. 30. Applications under Rule 68(3) for witnesses expected to testify during 2026 would also be due by that date, while requests involving remaining witnesses would be submitted by Oct. 30. Applications for in-court protective measures would likewise be due on Oct. 30. The prosecution informed the chamber that the Legal Representatives of the Victims agreed with the proposed timetable. Duterte’s defense team, however, declined to support the proposed Rule 68 deadlines and took no position on the suggested schedule for protective-measure applications. While prosecutors sought greater procedural flexibility, Duterte’s lawyers urged judges to impose stricter safeguards on the admission and organization of evidence. Duterte, 80, is facing charges of crimes against humanity, specifically murder and attempted murder, in connection with killings allegedly committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against civilians during anti-drug operations conducted between November 2011 and March 2019. The charges were confirmed by the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I in April 2026 following confirmation proceedings held earlier in the year. The court’s Appeals Chamber subsequently upheld the ICC’s jurisdiction over the case after a challenge by the defense.
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