- ICC discloses initial evidence vs Duterte; PH maintains no rejoin plans
THE INTERNATIONAL Criminal Court (ICC) has provided President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team with the first set of evidence in the crimes against humanity case against him.
A three-page document on the ICC website revealed that the prosecution disclosed 181 items, organized under “pre-confirmation INCRIM package 001,” to the defense.
These items included materials cited in Duterte’s arrest warrant, excluding those under a separate regulation 35 application. The annex detailing the evidence is classified as “confidential.”
The former president was arrested in Manila on March 11, 2025, following an ICC warrant for murder as a crime against humanity.
The ICC alleges “reasonable grounds” to believe Duterte is responsible as an “indirect co-perpetrator” for murders committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.
The arrest warrant, initially issued “Secret” on March 7, 2025, was made public on March 11, 2025. Duterte remains in ICC custody.
Meanwhile, Malacañang reiterated on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, that the Philippines has no plans of rejoining the ICC, despite the government’s cooperation in surrendering to Duterte.
Palace press officer Usec. Claire Castro stated during a media briefing that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. simply smiled when asked about rejoining the ICC.
“We have not yet discussed any plan of rejoining the ICC. In our last conversation with the president, we also personally asked that, and he merely smiled and told me to say that there are no talks yet on the matter,” Castro said.
Castro also clarified that the Philippine government has not made any commitments regarding a potential ICC freeze order on Duterte’s assets within the country.
