Duterte’s defense denies link between his speeches and drug killings, challenges witness credibility at ICC.

At the ICC, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's defense team contended that there is no concrete proof connecting him to the alleged murders that occurred during his anti-drug campaign. They also criticized the prosecution's reliance on self-confessed killers who were given immunity and said that no witness had ever testified to receiving a direct order from Duterte. Nicholas Kaufman, the defense attorney, argued that there is no "smoking gun" in the case, questioned the existence of a coordinated plan, and rejected the prosecution's narrative as biased and politically motivated. Within sixty days, the ICC judges will determine whether to move forward with a trial.