Manila, March 20 -- A private lawyer accredited with the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday said the proceedings against former president Rodrigo Duterte before the Netherlands-based tribunal may be completed sooner than expected due to substantial evidence against the former chief executive.

"The case against Mr. Duterte may be completed in as little as a year considering the evidence at hand," trial lawyer Joel Butuyan told reporters at the Meet the Manila Press forum.

Butuyan made the comment when asked if the proceedings would take as long as the case of another client of lawyer Nicholas Kaufman who has been named as the lead defense counsel for Duterte.

They are referring to Kaufman's client, incumbent Congo deputy pri...