Duterte’s defense team proposes strict ID verification for victim applicants

Former President Rodrigo Duterte's defense team has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to adopt strict standards for verifying the identities of victim applicants and their legal representation.

On April 7, lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman proposed that national identity cards or current Philippine passports with up-to-date photographs should be required to prevent misidentification and double-counting issues, suggesting IDs accepted by the Social Security System (SSS) in their absence.

Critics, including ICC-listed lawyer Joel Butuyan from the Center for International Law, argue that these requirements are unrealistic and discriminatory against impoverished victims who lack access to such documents.

Butuyan emphasized that many of the victims come from among the 'poorest of the poor' and do not have passports or other forms of identification required by Kaufman's proposal.

Confirmation of charges hearings are scheduled for September 23-26, after which judges will decide whether Duterte's case will proceed to trial based on sufficient evidence.