ICC Registry says 16 victims fall outside scope of Duterte charges

At least 16 victims previously admitted to take part in the International Criminal Court (ICC) case against former President Rodrigo Duterte fall outside the current scope of the charges, according to the court's Registry, Mindanao Times reported.

The Registry made the finding in a report dated Oct. 29, 2026. The report was submitted to Trial Chamber III, which is presided over by Judge Joanna Korner with Judges Keebong Paek and Nicolas Guillou. It sets out the time and place limits that determine which victims may participate in the trial.

According to the report, 13 applications covering 16 victims do not fit these limits, based on the Registry's current understanding of the charges. The Registry separately forwarded 46 applications that it assessed as clearly qualifying for participation.

Four more complex applications were referred to the judges for legal guidance. One question is whether killings carried out in June 2016 are covered by the phrase "around July 2016" in the charges. The judges were also asked whether a missing person can be presumed dead without formal proof of death.

Two other questions concern who counts as an indirect victim. The Registry asked whether a neighbour who heard gunshots but did not see the killing qualifies. It also asked whether a child born years after a killing can qualify because of the continuing harm to the family.

The Registry acknowledged that the number of victim applications remains below its original projections. It cited limited staff, funding constraints and restricted capacity on the ground to help applicants as the main reasons.