THE HAGUE – The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber 1 has granted the prosecution’s request to extend the deadline for submitting several documents related to the crimes against humanity case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a five-page decision, the chamber, comprised of Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc, Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou, and Judge Maria del Socorro Flores Liera, ordered the prosecution to complete the disclosure of arrest warrant materials related to relevant witnesses by July 1, 2025.
The prosecution was also instructed to submit any applications for redactions not falling under standard categories by June 16th.
The Victims and Witnesses Unit must submit its observations on these applications by the same date, with any responses due by June 20th. This extension was granted after the ICC Office of the Prosecutor requested a delay to complete the disclosure process and to extend the deadline for applying to withhold witness identities.
The prosecution argued that immediate disclosure of witness identities would pose a significant risk to their safety, a concern acknowledged by the Pre-Trial Chamber.
The Chamber noted the prosecution’s assessment that immediate disclosure of witness identities would create an objective risk to their safety, and since the defense and the Office of Public Counsel for Victims did not object, the Chamber granted the extension.
Duterte, arrested in the Philippines on March 11th based on an ICC warrant, is currently detained in the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague.
He faces charges of crimes against humanity related to the extrajudicial killings during his administration’s “war on drugs.” The Pre-Trial Chamber has scheduled a hearing on the confirmation of charges for September 23, 2025.
