Trial lawyer Joel Butuyan speaks to reporters at the Supreme Court grounds on Monday (April 7, 2025). The International Criminal Court (ICC)-accredited lawyer said additional charges may be filed by prosecutors against former president Rodrigo Duterte before the ICC ahead of the Sept. 23 confirmation of charges. (PNA photo by Ben Pulta)
An accredited lawyer with the International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Monday that prosecutors may still add more charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte ahead of a September 23 hearing to confirm charges.
Speaking to reporters, lawyer Joel Butuyan noted that Duterte currently faces a single charge: crimes against humanity for acts committed during his anti-drug campaign between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019 — spanning his time as Davao City mayor and later as president.
“That’s just one charge,” Butuyan said in Filipino. “Other crimes like illegal imprisonment, torture, and other inhumane acts are not yet included. Prosecutors could still seek to add those before the September 23 hearing.”
Butuyan, who leads the Center for International Law, emphasized that the number of killings isn’t the focus of the ICC case, but rather who was behind the policy that led to them.
“This isn’t about trying 30,000 killings. It’s about identifying those who planned and implemented the policy of killing as a solution to the drug problem,” he explained. “Under ICC rules, even one death is enough — if you can prove it was part of a deliberate policy.”
He added that the 43 specific cases currently cited by the ICC are already more than sufficient for prosecution.
Butuyan also said that Duterte’s legal team has been finalized, which means that procedural matters raised by the defense can now be addressed more swiftly by the ICC’s pre-trial chamber.
One such issue is the question of the ICC’s jurisdiction, given the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court during Duterte’s term.
Previously, Butuyan has stated that the case could move quickly — possibly within a year — due to the strength of the evidence, including numerous videos showing Duterte encouraging police and even civilians to kill drug suspects, as well as offering rewards and promotions.