In a significant move, the defense for former president Rodrigo Duterte has submitted a detailed critique of victim participation in the International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings, calling for stricter identification requirements and unified legal representation.

In a four-page document uploaded to the ICC website, Duterte's defense, led by lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, emphasized the need for stringent identification for victim applicants.

"The Pre-Trial Chamber should insist on the production of a national identity card and/or a passport containing an up-to-date photograph," he said.

In the absence of these documents, Kaufman suggested using IDs accepted by the Philippine Social Security System (SSS).

"Limiting the range of identity documents enhances the reliability of the identity verification process and significantly reduces the risk of fraud," he added.

Duterte's defense criticized the ICC Registry's supposed non-sequential list of acceptable IDs. The ICC Registry is the organ that handles applications for victim participation and reparations.

"The non-sequential list provided by the Registry unjustifiably expands the identification regime set out by the Philippine social security system," Kaufman noted.

He likewise opposed the Registry's suggestion to accept declarations signed by two witnesses as sufficient proof of identity, citing previous ICC decisions, stating, "In Kony, the Chamber did not accept such declarations prima facie."

Kaufman also addressed the issue of legal representation for victim applicants, saying the defense recognizes the victims' right to be heard, but victim participation should respect the rights of the defense and ensure fair administration of justice.

In addition, Duterte's defense opposed the ICC Registry's proposal to allow individual lawyers for some victim applicants while the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) represents others. The OPCV is an ICC body that provides legal representation to victims throughout the proceedings.

"Permitting submissions by individual lawyers for some, but not all, applicants while simultaneously appointing the OPCV for others will result in twice the number of submissions before this Chamber," Kaufman argued.

"It will be unwieldly, unnecessarily encumber the defense, and slow down the proceedings," he added.

Kaufman recommended that all victim applicants should be represented solely by the OPCV, saying this would streamline the process and protect Duterte's right to a speedy judicial process.

Duterte was arrested and surrendered to the ICC on March 11 for crimes against humanity in relation to alleged human rights violations during his administration's infamous drug war.

Duterte first appeared before the ICC on March 14 for a pre-trial hearing. His confirmation of charges hearing is set for Sept. 23.