Duterte defense raises privacy concerns over ICC prosecutor’s request for seized personal items
Duterte defense raises privacy concerns over ICC prosecutor’s request for seized personal items
Publish Date: 2026-06-26 22:16:00
Source Domain: www.manilatimes.net
MANILA, Philippines — The defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte raised privacy concerns over a request by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution seeking access to keys and other personal items seized from him after his arrest, warning that the materials may involve private belongings of his family members.
In a filing dated June 26, 2026, lead defense counsel Peter Haynes opposed the prosecution’s second request for access to materials held by the ICC Registry, describing it as a “fishing expedition” that came “far too late” in the proceedings.
The dispute involves items taken from Duterte following his arrest and transfer to the ICC on March 12, 2025. The prosecution’s request, filed on June 9, 2026, seeks access to several materials, including “all keys in the Registry’s custody,” according to the public redacted version of the Registry’s observations submitted on June 25.
*Defense cites family privacy rights*
The defense argued that granting access to the items could affect the privacy rights of third parties, particularly Duterte’s relatives, because the keys were seized while the former president was traveling with his family.
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The lawyers said the keys “may provide access to material belonging to, or concerning, his relatives,” raising concerns that the prosecution could examine personal items unrelated to the charges against Duterte.
The defense maintained that the prosecution had already been aware of the seized materials since March 14, 2025, when the ICC Registry submitted its initial report on Duterte’s arrest. It…
