An International Criminal Court (ICC) accredited lawyer said that the completion of the legal team of former President Rodrigo Duterte will "speed up" the process of his case before his scheduled hearing on September 23.

ICC-accredited lawyer and chairperson of Center Law Joel Butuyan stated in a radio interview on Sunday that the legal team of Duterte may now file for challenges before the ICC confirmation of charges hearing.

"The completion of the legal team of former President Rodrigo is good news as it can speed up the process more as from now until September 23 ... the legal team of Mr. Duterte can file what is referred to as challenges and an application for interim release", Butuyan said.

Butuyan said that Duterte's team can appeal challenges such as the jurisdiction of ICC in the Philippines and validity of the issuance of the warrant of arrest.

However, it depends on when the legal team of Duterte will file the challenges as it may overlap with the scheduled trial in September which may lead to its postponement due to the process.

"It depends if the team of former President Duterte will file it (the challenges) immediately. If so, it will also be immediately decided but if it will be filed near September 23 ... I think that it may overlap and it is possible that the initial hearing of the confirmation of charges will be postponed", he added.

On Friday, Vice President Sara Duterte told reporters after her visit to her father that she is "excited to go home" to the country as the legal team of the former president is completed.

"Everything is organized with the lawyers and there is already a system for the family with regards to the visiting here in the detention unit", Duterte said.

"And that the last document that was needed of me, I delivered it this morning to the person inside who asked for it. So yes, my task is done, it's well organized", she added. Marie Manalili/DMS