THE LEGAL defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte has formally challenged the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecution’s move to introduce eight new incidents—designated as Incidents 50 to 57—into its Trial Brief, arguing it constitutes an improper expansion of the case.
According to the Defense, the charges originally confirmed in April 2026 encompassed 49 incidents.
They contend that the newly added set involves distinct victims, dates, locations, perpetrators, and criminal acts, making them substantive material facts that cannot be slipped into a trial brief without explicit judicial approval.
Furthermore, the Defense flagged a temporal discrepancy regarding Incident 57, noting that it allegedly falls outside the confirmed timeline for Count 2.
They claim the Prosecution unilaterally shifted the period in its Trial Brief from July 2016–July 2017 to July 2016–August 2017.
Questions were also raised concerning the evidentiary basis of the filings.
The Defense asserted that the supporting records—including purported Philippine National Police (PNP) Incident Record Forms—originated from former Senator Antonio Trillanes, pointing out that these documents were unsigned and lacked official certified-true-copy stamps.
Asserting that the Prosecution cannot expand the parameters of the case on its own authority, the Defense is now urging Trial Chamber III to order the Prosecution to either formally seek judicial permission for the additions or strike the disputed incidents from the Trial Brief entirely.
