The freezing of an undisclosed amount of cash seized from former President Rodrigo Duterte during his arrest was part of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) standard procedure, one of the common legal representatives for drug war victims said Wednesday.

Lawyer Gilbert Andres declined to speculate on the amount of money involved, following a warning issued by ICC Trial Chamber III during the second status conference in Duterte's case on 24 June.

Still, Andres said the freezing of the cash was a routine court process because "not everything may be taken into a detainee's cell."

While detainees may be allowed to keep cash with them in some cases, he said this is only permitted if the amount is not substantial.

"If a detainee brings any belongings with them, the Registry will, of course, list them down. However, they are only allowed to bring essentials, such as clothing, underwear and a toothbrush. Other belongings are placed in an inventory and kept in the Registry's safekeeping," Andres said in Filipino during a radio interview.

The seized cash will remain in the court's custody and could be used for potential reparations should Duterte be convicted.

The charges also cover alleged summary executions carried out by the so-called Davao Death Squad, which ICC prosecutors allege Duterte founded and led.

Aside from the cash, prosecutors in late June sought access to several items seized from Duterte during his arrest, including a set of keys, saying they could yield evidence relevant to the case.

The defense did not oppose the request but criticized it as a "fishing expedition," arguing that it was "insufficiently reasoned, is neither necessary nor proportionate, and should be rejected."

Meanwhile, Trial Chamber III expects Duterte to personally attend the next status conference on 7 September 2026.

Although Duterte was allowed to skip the previous two status conferences on 27 May 27 and 24 June, defendants are generally required to appear in person during trial under ICC rules.

The court may excuse an accused from attending proceedings for justifiable reasons, but any request for a waiver must be personally signed by the accused—not by counsel—Andres said.

The ICC has also ordered a court-appointed panel of experts to conduct another assessment of Duterte's physical and mental fitness ahead of the trial, which is scheduled to begin in November, after his lawyers repeatedly argued that he is unfit to stand trial.

A separate panel appointed earlier this year found Duterte capable of participating in the proceedings, contradicting the defense's claims that his advanced age has caused cognitive impairment and significant weight loss.

Duterte, 81, faces three counts of crimes against humanity of murder over the alleged killings of 78 people, including six children, between 2013 and 2018 during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as president.