Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte appearing for the first time before the ICC judges on 14 March 2025. Image from the International Criminal Court

Defense lawyers of former president Rodrigo Duterte have received the first set of evidence in the crimes against humanity case filed against him before the International Criminal Court.

A 3-page document uploaded on the ICC website said the prosecution has disclosed to the defense 181 items organized under pre-confirmation INCRIM package 001.

It said the items comprise material cited in the warrant of arrest for former president Duterte “with the exception of those items notified to the Chamber and the Defense in the Prosecution’s related application under regulation 35 of the Regulations of the Court.”

It said the annex to the filing is classified as “confidential” as it refers to confidential evidence disclosed inter partes.

Duterte was arrested in Manila last March 11 following the issuance of an ICC warrant for the crimes against humanity of murder.

The ICC said material submitted by the Prosecution showed there are “reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Duterte is individually responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder, allegedly committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019."

The warrant of arrest against Mr Duterte was issued by the Chamber as “Secret” on 7 March 2025 and reclassified as “Public” on 11 March 2025.

Duterte is currently in ICC custody.