The camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to disqualify the external legal representatives for the victims, citing as reason conflict of interest.
In an 11-page request dated Feb. 11, the defense team requested the chamber to order the registry to revoke their appointment.
They also sought to suspend the lawyers’ access to the case record pending determination of their request.
Among the lawyers that they wanted to disqualify were Joel Butuyan, Gilbert Andres, and Nicolene Arcaina.
Defense counsels asserted that the grounds were an impediment to representation and, in the alternative, on the basis of a conflict of interest.
They claimed that Arcaina, who was appointed as case manager, had a professional relationship with Butuyan and Andres.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Duterte asks ICC to revoke appointments of victims’ 3 lawyers”
