ICC denies Duterte’s move to disqualify 2 judges
The ICC unanimously denied the request of former president Rodrigo Duterte to disqualify two judges from ruling on the challenge of the jurisdiction of the court in connection with his crimes against humanity case.
According to Judge Tomoko Akane, the ICC plenary considered Duterte’s bid to disqualify Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophia Alapini-Gansou and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera on June 9.
He noted that the ICC judges acted unanimously as they decided to deny the application.
“A fully reasoned decision of the plenary will follow,” Akane said.
Per the Philippine News Agency, Duterte’s defense team argued in the petition that the two judges had “prior involvement in the most substantive legal question” in the case.
“The question of jurisdiction and the exercise thereof is a contentious—if not the most contentious—issue in the case,” his defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman wrote in May. “Deciding this matter in favor of the Defense will have far-reaching consequences on the future of the situation."
Duterte has been at the ICC since March 12.
He was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 following a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC via the International Criminal Police Organization.
He has been accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Roman Statute."
Specifically, he was allegedly involved in the murder of at least 19 persons reported to be drug pushers or thieves who were killed by members of the Davao Death Squad in various locations in or around Davao City between 2011 and 2016, as well as the murder of at least 24 alleged criminals who were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines law enforcement at various locations in the country between 2016 and 2019 during his term as president.
He could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
His pre-trial hearing is on Sept. 23, 2025. If the charges against him are confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.
