Duterte’s ICC case timeline: Key dates leading to November 30 trial
MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber has established a strict set of rules in ensuring judicial efficiency, transparency, and adherence to due process.
During the status conference, the Trial Chamber binds all parties to rigorous organizational deadlines, health assessments and definitive evidentiary cutoff grounded in the Al Rahman protocol that provided means in dealing with large volume of evidence, protection of witnesses and avoiding systemic delays.
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Here is the timeline set by the chamber.
June 3: Both prosecution and defense will liaise and prepare a proposed joint letter of instruction regarding the assessment of Duterte’s health.
June 5: The Registry will contact the three medical experts who previously examined Duterte to verify their availability and report findings to the chamber.
June 5: All parties and participants will submit proposed amendments to the conduct of proceedings modeled on the Al Rahman protocols.
June 15: The Registry must report on proposed protocols for dual-status witnesses, vulnerability assessments, and redactions. Simultaneously, the Registry must identify foreseeable changes to the eCourt protocol, specifically regarding the submission of evidence during the trial.
June 23: Second status conference.
June 29: Prosecution is required to file its provisional list of witnesses and evidence.
July 14: Third status conference.
August 31: Formal foreclosure of the evidentiary record.
- Parties must submit the final list of witnesses and evidence, including the list of experts.
- Terminal deadline for the prosecution to add any new incidents to the case
- All motions requiring resolution prior to the commencement of proceedings, pursuant to Rule 134(1) and (2) must be filed by this date.
The chamber stressed that any subsequent filings will be subject to a high burden of proof for “good cause,” requiring a full explanation for the delay.
The chamber said the strictness “is intended to prevent the introduction of repetitive, irrelevant, or over-voluminous evidence that would result in a prejudicial impact on the Defense’s ability to investigate.”
By enforcing this cutoff, the Chamber ensures that the trial remains focused on contested issues rather than administrative overflow.
September 28: Submission of the legal representative of the victims’ trial brief.
October 30: Deadline for the defense to indicate issues and submit trial brief.
November 30: Official trial commencement and opening statements.
The chamber has ordered the Registry to arrange necessary interpretation services for the opening statements for the stakeholders and the public in the Philippines to understand the proceedings. /cb
