MANILA, Philippines — Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) intend to call 60 to 70 witnesses to testify against former president Rodrigo Duterte during the trial, including 31 "insider witnesses" and 17 crime-base witnesses.
Of these, only 25 to 30 are expected to give live testimony in court, with prosecutors seeking to introduce previously recorded evidence for the remainder under Rule 68 of the court's rules.
Direct examination of witnesses is estimated to take between 175 and 200 hours, according to documents filed that were made public over the weekend.
The filing revealed significant security concerns for witnesses, noting that "a significant number" will require in-court protective measures due to the current security situation in the Philippines, where many witnesses and their family members reside. Several witnesses have already been admitted to the court's witness protection program, with additional referrals anticipated.
The prosecutors have proposed that the trial of Duterte begin on November 30, 2026.
