Prosec seeks ICC witness protection

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have asked Trial Chamber III to adopt safety measures for their 55 witnesses against former President Rodrigo Duterte, such as identity protection and face and voice distortion, to ensure they testify truthfully without fear of threats and retaliation.

The request came just a little over three weeks before Duterte stands trial for crimes against humanity tied to his deadly war on drugs at the end of the month.

Acting Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told the chamber that in-court protective and special measures are necessary to ensure witnesses’ safety and privacy, especially since some may implicate Senator Bato dela Rosa, who remains at large.

“[A]s former head of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and a current senator, [Dela Rosa] maintains sufficient influence and support in the Philippines to evade arrest,” Niang said in a heavily redacted filing on 30 October but released only Thursday, 5 November.

He argued that this could particularly harm the “insider witnesses,” who have first-hand knowledge of the alleged extra-judicial killings during Duterte’s presidential and mayoral period in Davao City.