The International Criminal Court (ICC) has denied former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to disqualify two judges from handling his legal challenge against the court’s jurisdiction.
Duterte is facing an ICC probe over alleged crimes against humanity tied to extrajudicial killings under his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
On June 9, the ICC’s plenary of judges reviewed Duterte’s petition to remove Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera.
“The plenary of judges, acting unanimously, decided to reject the application,”
said the ruling, signed by Judge Tomoko Akane.
A more detailed explanation of the decision is expected to follow.
Duterte’s appeal sought to bar the two judges from ruling on his Defence Challenge with Respect to Jurisdiction, which questions the ICC’s authority over the case.
In contrast, the ICC’s Office of the Public Counsel for Victims urged the court to dismiss Duterte’s jurisdictional objection entirely.
