ICC Rejects Duterte Judge Disqualification, Case Proceeds

The International Criminal Court (ICC) plenary unanimously rejected former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to disqualify Judges María del Socorro Flores Liera and Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou from jurisdictional rulings in his crimes against humanity case, finding no grounds for bias or disqualification. Duterte's legal team argued prior involvement of the judges, but the ICC stated that its judges base decisions solely on presented evidence. Both the ICC Office of the Prosecutor and the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) called for dismissal of Duterte's jurisdictional challenge, maintaining the ICC's authority over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a party to the Rome Statute. The prosecution stressed that withdrawal from the Statute does not prevent investigations initiated before withdrawal. The OPCV cautioned that accepting Duterte's challenge could undermine international justice by allowing states to evade accountability. The ICC's rulings ensure that proceedings against Duterte for killings linked to his anti-drug campaign can move forward.