Duterte’s Defense Asks ICC to Cap Evidence After Prosecution List Surges 978%

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team asked the International Criminal Court on September 25, 2026, to order the prosecution to cap its evidence at 10,000 items. The motion, filed by defense counsel Peter Haynes, argues the defense cannot meaningfully review the 62,130 items the prosecution has now disclosed—a 978 percent increase from the 5,275 items listed during the confirmation phase.

The request asks the Trial Chamber to impose the limit by October 7. The defense says the sheer volume makes it impossible to prepare for trial without violating Duterte’s right to a fair hearing.

The evidence surge came into sharper focus after Duterte attended his first status conference on September 16. At that hearing, the chamber was expected to discuss the prosecution’s case, including its witness list and the time it would need to present evidence.

The case concerns allegations of crimes against humanity tied to the drug war Duterte launched while in office. The scale of the disclosure signals the prosecution is building an extensive record, but it also raises practical questions about how the court manages complex cases while protecting the accused’s rights.

If the Trial Chamber declines to cap the evidence, the defense may need significantly more time to review the material, potentially delaying proceedings. A ruling that imposes a limit, on the other hand, would force the prosecution to prioritize which items it considers essential to its case. Either outcome will test the ICC’s ability to balance thoroughness with fairness in a trial that carries high stakes for both the court and the Philippines.