ICC prosecutor eyes more expert reports vs Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested trial judges to admit two additional expert reports in the crimes against humanity trial of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

In a filing dated Oct. 30 released last week, acting ICC prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang asked the Trial Chamber III to admit into evidence the joint expert report of witness P-1071 and P-1078, as well as the separate expert report of witness P-1162.

“Both are widely published and recognised as leading academic experts in this field,” the filing read, referring to witnesses P-1071 and P-1078.

Witness P-1162’s expert report “demonstrates the implausibility that the number of suspects killed can be explained by legitimate self-defense in light of the number of suspects and police who died in anti-illegal drug operations during Mr. Duterte’s presidency,” the prosecutor said.

“P-1162 analyzed the use of deadly force by the PNP (Philippine National Police), through a series of national, international and regional comparisons, with a particular focus on Bulacan province. P-1162’s reports identify and evaluate indicators such as ratios of suspects wounded against suspects killed, suspects killed against police officers killed, and number of operations against suspects killed,” he added.

According to Niang, the expert found that there is “a compelling evidentiary basis to conclude” that most encounters were staged to mask targeted killings and represents “a systemic practice of extrajudicial execution rather than legitimate law enforcement.”