The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor’s Office has asked the pre-trial chamber to extend deadlines related to witness materials in the case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a seven-page request dated May 14, former ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan asked the chamber to move the deadline for disclosing witness-related materials to July 1, 2025. This is the same date targeted for completing the full disclosure process.
Additionally, the prosecution requested an extension until June 20, 2025, to apply for non-disclosure of witness identities—citing serious safety risks if identities are revealed too early.
“The immediate disclosure of witnesses’ identities poses a real risk to their safety,” the document stated. It further explained that aligning all non-disclosure applications to a single date would help the chamber assess them more effectively and efficiently.
The prosecution emphasized that these requested delays are fair and still respect the rights of both Duterte and the witnesses involved.
They also noted that the proposed July 1 deadline falls within acceptable international timelines and complies with the required 30-day notice period. The June 20 deadline for non-disclosure requests is consistent with previous pre-trial practices at the ICC.
Despite these requests, the prosecution said it continues to work diligently to ensure the disclosure process does not delay or disrupt upcoming proceedings, including the confirmation of charges hearing set for September 23, 2025.
Duterte, arrested in the Philippines on March 11 under an ICC-issued warrant, remains in detention at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague. He faces charges of crimes against humanity tied to the extrajudicial killings during his administration’s war on drugs.