Rodrigo Duterte prosecution opposes motion to refile ICC charges

The prosecution and legal representatives for victims have informed the International Criminal Court (ICC) that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte cannot seek to refile or amend his charges at this stage of the trial.

Duterte is facing three counts of murder as a crime against humanity related to the killing of 76 individuals across 49 incidents during his administration’s war on drugs. His legal team had filed a motion requesting the Trial Chamber to direct the prosecution to refile charges that provide a more exhaustive list of acts and a more clearly defined scope to better inform the accused.

The prosecution opposed this motion, arguing that the adequacy of the charges was already determined and affirmed by the Pre-Trial Chamber. They stated that the three counts possess a clear temporal, geographical, and material scope consistent with the ICC Statute. Similarly, the common legal representative of victims (CLRVs) requested the outright rejection of the defense motion, labeling it “procedurally misconceived.”