THE HAGUE – Humingi ng permiso ang defense team ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na pinangungunahan ni counsel Nicholas Kaufman, sa International Criminal Court (ICC) na payagan itong magdagdag ng mga item sa kanilang list of evidence.
Sa request sa ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 na may petsang Pebrero 6, 2026, humiling ang kampo ni Duterte na magdagdag ng 78 items sa list of evidence nito “to be relied on during the hearing on the confirmation of charges, originally submitted on 5 September 2025.”
Nag-isyu ng request ang defense team ni Duterte matapos na ibahagi ng prosekusyon ang kabuuang 1,242 items na sinabing “could be potentially exculpatory or relevant to the preparation of the Defense.”
Matapos ang pagsusuri sa disclosures ng prosekusyon, sinabi ng kampo ni Duterte na natukoy ang karagdagang mga item “as highly relevant to the charges and necessary for any meaningful submissions by the Defence at the hearing on the confirmation of charges.”
“The present request is supported by good cause and the Prosecution has confirmed that the addition of these Items to the Defence List of Evidence causes it no prejudice,” sinabi pa ng defense team ni Duterte.
Pagpapatuloy pa ng kampo ng dating pangulo na “no prejudice will stem from the inclusion of the Additional Items on the Defence List of Evidence.”
“Firstly, in full compliance with Rule 121(6), the present request is submitted 15 days before the commencement of the Confirmation of Charges hearing, now set to begin on 23 February 2026.”
“Secondly, the number of Additional Items is modest. Thirdly, the Prosecution is the master of its own evidence and is presumed to be aware of its relevance or lack thereof to the charges. Fourthly, the Legal Representatives for the Victims have only just been appointed, the composition of their team is yet to be finalised, and their access rights to evidence still to be facilitated,” dagdag pa.
“Finally, and most importantly, in light of the Prosecution’s confirmation that it does not oppose the addition of these Items, their inclusion would occasion no prejudice to the Prosecution, whereas their non-admission would cause significant prejudice to Mr Duterte,” ayon pa sa kampo ni Duterte.
Sinabi ng defense team na hindi pa ito nagkakaroon ng oportunidad na suriin ang pinakabagong disclosure ng prosekusyon kung saan 12 item ang tinukoy bilang potentially exonerating o relevant sa preparasyon ng depensa.
“The Defence respectfully reserves the right to seek further amendment of its List of Evidence upon its prompt review of the newly-disclosed items.” RNT/JGC
