World
Defense Challenges ICC’s Addition of Eight New Incidents to Duterte Trial
The defense team for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has formally objected to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecution’s attempt to add eight new incidents—labelled Incidents 50 to 57—to its Trial Brief. The defense argues that the original charges, confirmed in April 2026, covered 49 incidents and that the new set involves different victims, dates, locations, perpetrators and criminal acts, making them substantive facts that cannot be inserted into the brief without court approval. They also point to a timing issue with Incident 57, which they say falls outside the confirmed period for Count 2. The prosecution reportedly changed the period in its brief from July 2016–July 2017 to July 2016–August 2017 without permission. The defense questions the evidentiary basis of the filings, noting that the Philippine National Police Incident Record Forms cited by the prosecution were provided by former Senator Antonio Trillanes, were unsigned, and lacked official certified‑true‑copy stamps. The defense has asked Trial Chamber III to order the prosecution to either seek judicial permission for the additions or remove the disputed incidents from the Trial Brief.