The International Criminal Court (ICC) Registry has officially notified Pre-Trial Chamber I of the appointment of common legal representatives for victims in the case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a document dated February 4, 2026, the Registry confirmed the designation of human rights lawyers Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres to represent the victims recognized by the court.
The notification follows the Chamber’s January 26 decision to authorize several victims of Duterte’s “war on drugs” to participate in the proceedings.
“The Registry hereby informs Pre-Trial Chamber I of the appointment of Legal Representatives of the Victims in the present case,” the ICC filing stated. While the main submission is public, specific annexes containing the contact details of the counsels remain confidential for security reasons.
The court has currently authorized the participation of at least 29 individuals. Ten other applications were rejected because they fell outside the specific timeframe or material scope of the investigation.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity involving alleged murders committed during his tenure as the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Davao City, and later as President of the Philippines.
The appointment of legal counsel marks a procedural milestone ahead of the confirmation of charges hearing, which is scheduled for February 23, 2026.
Despite the proceedings, Duterte has previously indicated he intends to retain his own legal team to contest the charges.