MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday reaffirmed redactions applied to the transcript and live broadcast of the ongoing confirmation of charges hearings in the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte, citing the need to protect the identities of witnesses and victims.
In an oral ruling, the chamber said that the redactions followed a prosecution request, which had been opposed by the defense, and were intended solely to safeguard identifying information. The measures are not general redactions of the case but are limited to details such as positions held, nicknames, or other data that could reveal the identity of witnesses or victims.
The court reminded both parties to carefully word submissions to avoid disclosing sensitive information that could compromise safety or privacy. The chamber emphasized that adherence to these guidelines ensured transparency in proceedings while upholding the psychological well-being, dignity, and privacy of those involved, in line with Article 68 of the Rome Statute.
“The defense disclosed information on several occasions that allowed for the identification of victims and witnesses,” the chamber said, warning counsel Nicholas Kaufman to avoid repeating such disclosures.
The ruling allows the hearing to continue without going into a fully closed session.