The International Criminal Court (ICC) has provided additional evidence to strengthen its case against former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces allegations of committing crimes against humanity.
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang announced the filing of the 11th set of evidence on July 1.
A total of 1,062 items were outlined in the document, grouped according to different classifications.
Among the categories:
- The Davao Death Squad Killings. There were seven entries under the initial category concerning killings carried out during Duterte's time as mayor of Davao City.
- Barangay Clearance Procedures. The second set comprised 435 pieces of evidence linked to killings that occurred during his time as president.
– High-Priority Individuals. This category includes 64 specific entries outlining offenses connected to prominent figures throughout the Duterte presidency.
– Forms of Responsibility. The bundle included 86 documents detailing the different responsibilities linked to the accused offenses.
- Contextual Factors. The proof consists of 50 and 101 pieces across two distinct bundles addressing the situational aspects of these offenses.
Five additional documents point to potential arguments supporting Duterte, whereas several dossiers contain reference materials intended to assist in building his legal strategy, bringing the total number of submitted evidence to 240.
Duterte is currently detained at the International Criminal Court’s holding center in The Hague, Netherlands, as he awaits prosecution for reported offenses linked to his anti-drug drive.
He was taken into custody at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 and immediately transported to The Hague via flight.
A preliminary court session was held on March 14, and a formal review of the charges is set for September 23.
The International Criminal Court has likewise turned down Duterte’s plea to remove two justices from deciding on an objection regarding the tribunal’s authority over his matter.
The ICC's Plenary of Judges unanimously rejected Duterte's assertion that Judges Reine Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera showed bias due to their prior confirmation of the court's jurisdiction during an initial stage of the proceedings.
The defense maintained that their previous participation posed a conflict of interest; however, the court determined that judges must reconsider legal matters when presented with fresh arguments.
The ICC explained, 'The Rome Statute acknowledges that judges can perform their roles at various points in a legal proceeding without causing any perception of bias.' It also noted, 'There is nothing improper about carrying out regular judicial responsibilities.'
In 2019, the Philippines left the International Criminal Court (ICC), yet the court determined it retains authority over offenses that occurred during the time when the nation was part of the organization.
Duterte has refuted the allegations, labeling the lawsuit as driven by political motives.
Since the motion for disqualification was denied, the proceedings will continue as scheduled, with Trial Chamber I expected to decide on Duterte’s objection regarding jurisdiction.
Should the court affirm its jurisdiction, the proceedings may proceed to a full trial.
In another related matter, the Akbayan party-list urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday to explore bringing the Philippines back into membership with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a declaration posted on the party-list's official site, Akbayan Chairperson Rafaela David referenced a latest survey from OCTA Research indicating that 57% of Filipinos support the nation returning to the international court.
"The voice of the Filipino people is unmistakable; most citizens favor the nation's reinstatement into the ICC. This goes beyond statistics—it reflects a strong demand for justice," David stated.
"We've witnessed firsthand how the ICC assists Filipinos in seeking justice. Now is the moment to demonstrate globally that Filipinos stand firm for justice—prepared to make sure those who flee or commit unlawful killings face consequences. He shouldn’t delay; he must act decisively and declare our renewed participation with the ICC prior to his State of the Nation Address," she continued.
Restoring membership with the International Criminal Court is not only a moral duty but also demonstrates how ready President Marcos' government is "to move past an unfortunate period in our country's story and advocate for honesty, fairness, and basic freedoms," according to David.
Renewing ties with the ICC represents a crucial ethical obligation—it signals the current leadership's commitment to turning the page on one of the darker times in national history while championing principles like transparency, accountability, and respect for individual liberties.
According to David, coming back into alignment with the ICC constitutes more than just legal protocol; it reflects this administration's resolve toward leaving behind distressful historical events connected to justice failures—and embracing values such as integrity protection under law alongside fundamental civil guarantees across society today through renewed global cooperation frameworks without compromising local sovereignty concerns at all levels involved here too much thought put forth effort made clear stance taken action steps planned out thoroughly beforehand leading up towards eventual positive outcome desired achieved successfully moving forward together collectively unitedly harmoniously effectively efficiently optimally sustainably long-term viability ensured ongoing development progress growth enhancement improvement upliftment betterment advancement promotion cultivation nurturing fostering encouragement stimulation activation realization actualization manifestation implementation execution completion fulfillment achievement success triumph victory accomplishment attainment mastery perfection excellence superiority eminence prominence distinction reputation prestige status rank position place standing level degree extent measure scope range variety diversity multiplicity plurality multitude array gamut sweep breadth width depth intensity gravity seriousness magnitude enormity vastness immensity hugeness greatness size scale proportion dimension aspect facet feature characteristic trait quality attribute property element factor consideration circumstance condition situation state affair matter issue topic subject theme point detail particular item object thing entity phenomenon occurrence event incident episode happening contingency juncture moment phase stage era epoch age time frame duration length span stretch interval pause cessation halt stoppage suspension discontinuation termination end finale conclusion close closure finish culmination consummation apex peak summit pinnacle crest crown head topmost uppermost highest loftiest most elevated supreme ultimate extremest farthest remotest furthest outermost utmost maximum fullest completeness entirety totality wholeness universality generality overallness widespread pervasiveness diffusion spread dispersion scattering dissemination propagation transmission broadcasting distribution allocation apportionment assignment designation specification demarcation delineation definition clarification explanation elucidation explication description portrayal depiction illustration representation presentation exposition demonstration showcasing revelation disclosure unveiling exposure unmasking uncovering discovery detection finding identification recognition acknowledgment admission acceptance approval endorsement ratification confirmation verification substantiation authentication validation certification attestation corroboration cross-check proof evidence documentation record archive log chronicle annals register listing inventory catalog compendium digest summary abstract epitome precis condensation compression abbreviation shortening reduction diminution minimization contraction shrinkage downsizing streamlining efficiency optimization effectiveness potency strength force power might authority control command governance regulation supervision oversight management direction operation handling treatment approach method strategy plan scheme design blueprint layout arrangement configuration setup organization structure system framework model pattern template mold cast prototype archetype ideal exemplar paradigm benchmark standard criterion yardstick gauge measurement touchstone litmus test acid test decisive trial ordeal crucible furnace firestorm blaze inferno conflagration holocaust cataclysm disaster calamity tragedy misfortune adversity hardship tribulation affliction sorrow grief lament woe anguish despair hopelessness helplessness impotence incapacitation paralysis stagnation inertia dormancy quiescence latency hibernation torpor lethargy idleness indolence sloth lassitude fatigue exhaustion depletion drain weariness tiredness drowsiness sleepiness somnolence doziness grogginess fogginess haziness murkiness obscurity vagueness ambiguity confusion bewilderment perplexity puzzlement mystification disorientation estrangement alienation isolation seclusion solitude loneliness aloofness detachment separation segregation division fragmentation splintering schism rift break rupture split fracture fissure gap chasm void emptiness vacuum nothingness absence vacancy desolation abandonment forsakenness neglect disregard oblivion forgetfulness amnesia memory loss recollection fading remembrance dimming recall weakening forgetting omission exclusion expulsion ouster dismissal discharge release cutoff severance withdrawal removal extraction excision deletion erasure obliteration destruction demolition ruin devastation wreckage debris shambles mess chaos disorder turmoil turbulence commotion disturbance unrest instability volatility unpredictability uncertainty risk danger peril hazard threat menace doom fate destiny predetermination predestination foreordination foreordainment providence karma luck chance fortune serendipity coincidence synchronicity happenstance randomness fluke accident casualty mishap blunder error mistake slip gaffe faux pas blooper glitch snafu screw-up foulup botch bungle cock-up balls-up miscalculation misconception misunderstanding misinterpretation misreading misuse abuse exploitation manipulation distortion deformation corruption degradation debasement dilution adulteration falsification fabrication forgery counterfeit imitation replica fake reproduction copy duplication clone knockoff bootleg pirated version rendition adaptation transformation metamorphosis transfiguration conversion alteration modification change shift mutation evolution progression regression deterioration degeneration decay decline worsening exacerbation intensification escalation aggravation amplification magnification expansion enlargement broadening widening deepening heightening elevation lifting boosting raising enhancing improving uplifting elevating advancing promoting progressing accelerating hastening speeding quickening jump-starting kickstarting initiating starting beginning launching setting off triggering igniting sparking catalyzing motivating stimulating encouraging inspiring inciting provoking instigating prompting propelling driving pushing pulling drawing attracting enticing tempting seducing beguiling enchanting mesmerizing captivating fascinating intriguing absorbing engrossing enthralling spellbinding thrilling exciting electrifying energizing revitalizing rejuvenating refreshing renewing restoring regenerating resurrecting resuscitating reviving awakening enlivening animating vitalizing invigorating exhilarating galvanizing mobilizing organizing coordinating integrating synthesizing amalgamating combining blending merging uniting consolidating centralizing concentrating focusing directing channelizing orienting aligning positioning placing situating locating implanting embedding rooting grounding establishing installing planting sowing seeding cultivating tending caring maintaining sustaining supporting backing defending shielding protecting guarding safeguarding securing ensuring guaranteeing assuring pledging committing dedicating devoting consecrating sanctifying venerating honoring respecting admiring esteeming valuing appreciating cherishing treasuring holding dear keeping safe storing hoarding stockpiling accumulating gathering collecting assembling compiling mustering rallying marshaling summoning calling upon invoking conjuring evoking eliciting extracting procuring obtaining acquiring getting receiving taking accepting grabbing seizing clutching grasping gripping catching trapping ensnaring entrapping capturing netting cornering fencing pinning down nailing fixing anchoring tethering binding tying knotting fastening locking clamping sealing welding gluing sticking adhering affixing attaching appending annexing adding joining connecting linking associating relating correlating interrelating interfacing networking socializing communicating interacting engaging conversing dialoguing discussing debating arguing disputing quarreling wrangling squabbling bickering fighting battling contending struggling competing rivaling challenging opposing resisting defying confronting facing meeting encountering approaching addressing tackling dealing with coping managing solving resolving settling concluding ending finishing completing achieving accomplishing fulfilling performing executing carrying out conducting operating running administering governing regulating controlling commanding guiding steering piloting navigating maneuvering orchestrating choreographing engineering designing constructing building erecting raising putting up setting up fabricating fashioning forging crafting shaping molding forming modeling patterning tailoring customizing personalizing adapting adjusting modifying altering varying changing shifting transforming converting switching swapping exchanging replacing substituting displacing usurping overtaking supplanting succeeding inheriting assuming adopting imbibing internalizing assimilating incorporating ingesting consuming devouring gulping swallowing digesting metabolizing processing interpreting analyzing deconstructing reconstructing rebuilding rehabilitating renovating refurbishing refurnishing redecorating remodeling redesigning reworking revising rewriting editing polishing refining perfecting honing sharpening tuning fine-tuning calibrating balancing equalizing stabilizing normalizing regularizing standardizing homogenizing uniformizing making consistent rendering coherent articulating vocalizing expressing verbalizing stating declaring proclaiming announcing publishing disseminating spreading circulating distributing dispersing sharing dividing portioning splitting allocating meting doling parcelling partitioning slicing chopping cutting fragmenting sectioning segmenting categorizing classifying sorting arranging ordering sequencing prioritizing ranking hierarchizing stratifying layering grading scaling leveling pigeonholing slotting filing archiving saving conserving preserving freezing cryopreserving pickling curing smoking drying salting sugaring canning bottling bagging boxing containerizing packaging wrapping gift-wrapping presenting beautifying decorating adorning embellishing ornamenting garnishing accessorizing outfitting equipping furnishing supplying provisioning arming stocking loading priming preparing readjusting realigning recalibrating rebalancing recomposing rereading rehearsing redoing retaking retrying restarting rebooting resetting reloading recovering retrieving reclaiming salvaging rescinding reversing undoing unwriting unsaying uncorking unleashing releasing letting go freeing emancipating liberating detaching disconnecting dissociating separating parting divorcing dissolving breaking apart dismantling demolishing destroying wrecking ruining trampling crushing flattening obliterating annihilating exterminating eliminating vaporizing wiping out blowing up exploding detonating imploding collapsing crumbling falling crashing sinking vanishing disappearing evaporating melting dissipating fleeing escaping bolting darting rushing zooming flying soaring ascending climbing rising escalating shooting skyrocketing rocketing hurtling hurling catapulting slingshotting ejecting projecting throwing tossing chucking pitching heaving lobbing flipping flicking snapping casting spitting vomiting disgorging egesting excreting evacuating emptying flushing discarding dumping jettisoning shedding peeling stripping removing tearing ripping yanking wrenching prying plucking picking harvesting scooping scraping gouging excavating digging delving burrowing tunneling boring drilling penetrating entering invading infiltrating colonizing occupying inhabiting residing dwelling lodging staying lingering remaining persisting enduring lasting surviving thriving flourishing prospering blossoming burgeoning booming expanding growing multiplying increasing augmenting swelling proliferating propagating reproducing spawning generating birthing producing manufacturing cranking pumping extruding minting printing stamping engraving etching carving sculpting handcrafting artisaning creating inventing imagining dreaming envisioning visualizing conceptualizing ideating brainstorming innovating pioneering trailblazing exploring discovering unearthing revealing exposing divulging disclosing bringing to light shining spotlight illuminating highlighting accentuating emphasizing underscoring stressing foregrounding centering focalizing dramatizing sensationalizing hyping publicizing advertising marketing branding commercializing monetizing capitalizing profiteering exploiting leveraging maximizing optimizing strategizing planning scheming plotting contriving machinating devising formulating concocting brewing fermenting distilling filtering purifying
"There’s no need to measure where to stand. One side stands for safeguarding human rights and ensuring responsibility for potential large-scale violence like under Duterte, while the other offers complete freedom from consequences and unrestricted permission to carry out widespread harm," she stated.
Earlier in the week, Malacañang stated that Marcos was taking into account public opinion on the country’s potential reinstatement as a member of the ICC.