THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved the prosecution’s application to freeze funds taken from former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the latest update from the court.
The order was issued by ICC Trial Chamber III, following Duterte’s arrest and transfer to The Hague in March 2025 to face proceedings before the international tribunal.
Aside from the freeze on the seized money, separate public documents filed with the court reveal that prosecutors are also asking for permission to access other items and materials recovered during the arrest. These requests form part of their efforts to gather and secure evidence that may be used in the case against the former leader as the legal process moves forward.
However, the defense team has raised objections to part of the application. They argue that the prosecution has failed to clearly explain or prove how some of the seized items are directly related to the charges pending before the court. According to their position, materials that do not have a clear connection to the case should remain protected and not be turned over or used by the prosecution.
For now, the exact amount of money covered by the freeze order remains undisclosed, as this detail was not included in the public filings released to the media. The ICC’s decision marks another development in the proceedings, setting rules on the handling of assets and evidence while both sides continue to argue over the scope and admissibility of materials gathered from Duterte.
metrosundaily
