The prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked trial chamber judges to admit previously recorded testimony from three witnesses in the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte, arguing that doing so would save time and resources at trial.
In a filing dated Oct. 19, the prosecution asked Trial Chamber III to admit the statements and related materials of three witnesses identified anonymously as P-0024, P-1357 and P-1359.
The document, signed by acting Prosecutor Maame Mandaye Niang, described the testimonies as “relevant, reliable, and probative.”
The prosecution said the testimonies “do not focus on the acts and conduct of the accused” but instead concern the contextual elements of crimes against humanity, particularly an alleged policy to “neutralise” criminals through violent crimes, including murder, and the widespread and systematic nature of the killings.
According to the redacted filing, the evidence covers police records on anti-drug operations, the structure and activities of the Davao Death Squad, Duterte’s alleged support for the killings, and the practice of placing placards on some victims of the drug war.
The testimony of P-1359 also addresses an increase in drug-related shooting incidents after Duterte was elected president.
The witness also received a document signed by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa that allegedly prohibited cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights’ investigation into extrajudicial killings from 2016 to 2017, the filing said.
The prosecution argued that the recorded testimonies would corroborate evidence presented by other witnesses who will testify in person at trial.
The request is the prosecution’s fourth application under Rule 68 of the ICC Rules of Procedure and Evidence, which allows previously recorded witness testimony to be admitted under certain conditions. Such evidence may include audio and video recordings, transcripts and related documents.
Duterte’s trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30. He faces three counts of murder as crimes against humanity over alleged killings linked to his war on drugs during his tenure as Davao City mayor and president.
