The International Criminal Court (ICC) upheld the pre-trial chamber’s ‘unanimous’ decision to reject former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to disqualify two judges from ruling on his case as his legal team moved to challenge the court’s jurisdiction.
Duterte is facing charges of murder as a crime against humanity in connection with the extrajudicial killings during his administration’s controversial war on drugs.
The ICC plenary of judges convened on June 9 to deliberate on Duterte’s petition to disqualify Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera from participating in the jurisdictional proceedings.
“The plenary of judges, acting unanimously, decided to reject the application,” read the decision signed by ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane.
A fully reasoned copy of the decision will be released at a later date, the tribunal said.
In his application, Duterte sought the disqualification of Alapini-Gansou and Flores from adjudicating the “Defence Challenge with Respect to Jurisdiction” filed before the ICC pre-trial chamber.
This is the second time Duterte’s petition for the disqualification of the said judges has been denied.
The ICC pre-trial chamber led by Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc earlier dismissed an invitation by the defense team for the “excusal” of both judges from adjudicating his case based on the issue of jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the ICC’s Office of the Public Counsel for Victims urged the tribunal to reject Duterte’s challenge questioning the court’s jurisdiction over the case.