The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appointed a presiding judge in the appeal of former President Rodrigo Duterte challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
In its Decision dated October 29, the court rendered its decision naming Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza as presiding judge.
Last week, the Appeals Chamber rejected Duterte’s camp, challenging the jurisdiction of the ICC over the case.
“As a result of the Prosecution’s preliminary examination having commenced prior to both the Philippines depositing its written notification of withdrawal from the Statute and the date on which that withdrawal became effective, the Chamber finds that the Court can exercise its jurisdiction in the present case over the crimes alleged against Mr Duterte that were committed on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party,” the ICC said in its October 23 Decision.
Prior to joining the ICC, Carranza served as a Senior National Prosecutor in Peru’s specialized system for the prosecution of crimes such as terrorism, grave violations of human rights, and crimes against humanity. Additionally, she acted as the coordinator of the 17 prosecutorial agencies of the system.
According to the ICC, other cases handled by Carranza in the Appeals Chamber include Congo warlord Bosco Ntaganda and Ugandan warlord Dominic Ongwen.
