MANILA — Nearly 7,000 pieces of evidence — including materials prosecutors consider potentially incriminating and exonerating — have been turned over to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense as the International Criminal Court (ICC) builds toward his trial for alleged crimes against humanity in November.
ICC records showed that prosecutors disclosed 6,909 evidence items to Duterte’s legal team from Jan. 7 to July 31, significantly expanding the body of material available for scrutiny ahead of the proceedings.
Of the total, 4,573 were classified as Rule 77 materials, which the defense is entitled to inspect in preparing its case. Another 2,279 items were identified as potentially incriminating, while 57 were considered potentially exonerating.
Rule 77 materials include evidence and background information that could assist the defense in preparing its case, including contextual details relevant to the allegations before the court.
The potentially incriminating evidence covers alleged killings linked to Duterte’s bloody anti-illegal drug campaign, including incidents involving high-value targets and barangay-level operations.
The prosecution also disclosed evidence concerning the alleged involvement of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), which prosecutors have linked to the broader campaign against illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, the 57 potentially exonerating items include information that could undermine the credibility of prosecution witnesses or support possible defenses for Duterte.
The massive disclosure is the latest in a continuing evidence-sharing process following Duterte’s arrest and transfer to the ICC over allegations of crimes against humanity stemming from killings allegedly committed during his anti-drug campaign.
In March 2025, prosecutors initially disclosed 181 evidence items totaling nearly 3,000 pages. The following month, another 421 documentary materials and almost 16 hours of audio and video recordings were provided to the defense.
From July to December 2025, prosecutors disclosed at least 1,303 additional pieces of evidence.
The thousands of materials now in the hands of Duterte’s defense are expected to figure prominently in the proceedings as both sides prepare their respective cases for the former president’s trial later this year./PN
