ICC rejects Duterte camp’s bid to disqualify two judges

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has denied a petition filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team seeking the disqualification of two judges from the case he is facing.

In a ruling dated July 3, the ICC’s plenary of judges found no merit in the claims questioning the impartiality of Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera.

“The plenary of judges, acting unanimously, considers that no actual nor reasonable apprehension of bias arises in respect of Judges Alapini-Gansou and Flores. The plenary of judges considers that the judges acted, at all times, in accordance with the judicial duties assigned to them under the (Rome) Statute,” stated the order, signed by ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane.

The motion from Duterte’s legal team alleged that the judges had “pre-judged” the case by participating in earlier rulings on the ICC’s jurisdiction, despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in March 2019.

However, the ICC has maintained that it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed during Duterte’s war on drugs, as its preliminary examination began prior to the Philippines’ official withdrawal.

Duterte is currently in ICC custody and is facing charges of crimes against humanity in relation to the thousands of drug-related killings under his administration.