The Registry of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has proposed a detailed set of operational guidelines aimed at managing public disclosures, digital evidence, and court records in the upcoming trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a six-page document dated June 5, 2026, the Registry outlined technical recommendations and procedural measures for Trial Chamber III as it prepares for the next phase of proceedings following the confirmation of charges against Duterte.
The submission was made in response to a directive issued by Presiding Judge Joanna Korner during the First Status Conference on May 27, requiring parties to submit recommendations on how the trial should be conducted.
Among the key proposals is a strict protocol governing the handling of sensitive information that may be inadvertently disclosed during live testimony.
Under the Registry’s recommendation, parties would be required to request the redaction of confidential or protected information from public broadcasts within 12 minutes of its disclosure. Other parties would then be given four minutes to raise objections before a decision is made.
The Registry said the timeline takes into account technical delays in live transmissions while ensuring that sensitive information is protected as quickly as possible.
The court’s administrative arm also proposed adopting procedures used in previous ICC cases for the preparation and publication of redacted transcripts.
Specifically, the Registry recommended the use of a system previously implemented in the case of Prosecutor v. Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, describing it as an effective and tested approach for producing public versions of court records while safeguarding confidential information.
According to the Registry, the verification mechanisms used in that case have consistently enabled the timely correction of transcripts and improved the efficiency of document management.
In addition to transcript procedures, the Registry is advocating for the extensive use of digital tools throughout the trial.
It recommended that judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and legal representatives of victims utilize the ICC’s Judicial Workflow Platform, a centralized digital system designed to manage witness information, documentary evidence, and other case materials.
The Registry said the platform would allow all records related to the case to be maintained in a single, integrated system, improving accessibility and coordination among participants.
To prepare for the transition, the Court Management Section conducted separate briefings with Duterte’s defense team, legal representatives of victims, and prosecutors earlier this week to demonstrate the platform’s capabilities.
Additional consultations are scheduled in the coming days, with a final report on the integration of the digital system expected to be submitted to Trial Chamber III by June 15.
The document was signed by Marc Dubuisson, Director of the Division of Judicial Services, on behalf of ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler.
The proposed framework comes as the ICC moves forward with proceedings against Duterte following the confirmation of charges by Pre-Trial Chamber I on April 23. Trial Chamber III was subsequently constituted by the ICC Presidency on April 28 to oversee the trial and determine the merits of the case.
