The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber has rejected a petition from former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team seeking the removal of two judges from ruling on jurisdictional matters in the ongoing case related to alleged crimes against humanity.
In a decision released Wednesday, May 7, the chamber denied the request to disqualify Judges Reine Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera, who were part of the three-member panel that issued the arrest warrant against Duterte.
According to the ICC’s ruling, only the judges themselves can request to be excused from a case, and such motions must be submitted directly to the ICC Presidency. The court clarified that while disqualification may be requested by the prosecution or the accused, requests for excusal must originate from the judge concerned.
“A judge’s excusal from the exercise of a function may only be sought by the concerned judge directly before the Presidency,” the ruling stated. It further noted that no party may make a preventive or anticipatory request to excuse a judge from participating in a decision.
The ICC concluded that Duterte’s legal challenge “lacks procedural propriety” and dismissed it in limine, indicating that it was rejected at the preliminary stage due to procedural deficiencies.
The chamber has scheduled a confirmation of charges hearing for September 23, though this date remains subject to change based on the progress of the proceedings.
Duterte is currently detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague. He faces charges of crimes against humanity stemming from his administration’s violent anti-drug campaign, which has drawn condemnation from human rights groups both in the Philippines and internationally.
