The legal team of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hurry up and hold a special meeting — and they want it to happen before July 25, right before the court goes on summer break.
Why? Because they say they’re running out of time to prepare for the big hearing that’s supposed to start on September 23, and it’s not their fault.
📅 What’s Happening?
The ICC is handling a case against Duterte related to his controversial anti-drug campaign, which allegedly involved serious crimes. The court is currently in the “confirmation of charges” phase, where judges will decide if the case should go to a full trial.
Duterte’s defense team—led by his lawyer Atty. Nicholas Kaufman—wants a “status conference”, which is a special meeting where both sides can discuss issues quickly without writing long letters or waiting for formal replies.
🕐 Time Is Ticking… And They’re Not Ready
Duterte’s team told the court that important documents they need to build their defense were delayed—and that’s the main reason why they’re asking for this emergency meeting.
In their request, they said:
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They asked for something important on April 15 but only got it on May 16 (a full month later).
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Another document was only received on July 7, which made it hard to prepare.
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Other materials they asked for over a month ago still haven’t arrived.
They say these delays make it very hard to finish their preparations before the July 24 deadline—the final day for submitting arguments before the hearing begins.
⚖️ What Is a Status Conference?
Think of it like a big group meeting with the judges, where both sides can:
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Ask questions
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Fix problems in the schedule
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Share updates on what’s missing
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Get quick decisions without waiting for written replies
The ICC Practice Manual says these meetings help things move faster and smoother—like a courtroom shortcut for solving issues.
🧑⚖️ Who Will Decide?
The request was sent to the Pre-Trial Chamber I, made up of three judges:
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Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Presiding Judge)
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Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou
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Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera
These judges will decide if the status conference will happen before July 25 at 5:30 p.m. (ICC time) or 11:30 p.m. Manila time.
🔥 Why It Matters
The defense says they can’t properly defend Duterte without getting the documents they need—and if the hearing happens without proper preparation, it could be unfair.
So now, they are rushing to the judges, saying:
“Please decide on this quickly. We can’t afford to waste more time!”
⏳ What’s Next?
We now wait to see whether the ICC judges will agree and schedule the meeting in time.
Will this urgent plea change the timeline of the hearing?
Will the delays affect how the case unfolds?
The clock is ticking — and the drama continues. ⏰👀
