ICC seeks systematic killings proof

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have asked judges to admit the recorded testimonies of two additional witnesses who could corroborate the alleged increase in police killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, including the deaths of teenager Kian de los Santos and former Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog.

In a 3 November filing, the prosecution asked Trial Chamber III to admit the prior recorded testimonies, marking its 10th such application involving intended witnesses. Prosecutors said the accounts would support evidence on the alleged pattern of killings under Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.

The witnesses, identified only as P-0025 and P-1382, are among those whose identities and statements were heavily redacted because of sensitive information.

“The two witnesses elaborate on the increase [in] killings during Mr. Duterte’s presidency and the contradiction between [REDACTED] and the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s self-defense allegations,” the filing said.

Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity of murder involving 78 people, including six children, allegedly killed as suspected drug dealers between 2013 and 2018, covering his time as Davao City mayor and president.

P-0025, a woman, is expected to testify about hundreds of people allegedly killed by law enforcement personnel and incidents cited under Counts 2 and 3, involving high-value targets and barangay clearance operations.

These include the July 2017 police raids that killed Parojinog, his wife, siblings and 14 others in Ozamiz City, as well as the August 2017 killing of 17-year-old De los Santos in Caloocan City.

The witness is also expected to discuss two alleged drug users killed in Bulacan and another victim shot dead in Quezon City.