ICC judges reject Duterte's disqualification plea

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) plenary of judges has unanimously rejected former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's motion to disqualify Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera from ruling on the challenge to the court's jurisdiction over his case.

ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane confirmed the plenary convened on June 9 to consider Duterte's request, and a fully reasoned decision will follow.

Duterte's defense team argued that the two judges should be disqualified due to their prior involvement in the question of jurisdiction.

Duterte faces a trial at The Hague, Netherlands, over his administration's anti-drug campaign, during which he allegedly created and supported death squads responsible for the murders of suspected drug users and dealers.

The Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) urged the chamber to dismiss Duterte's jurisdictional challenge, asserting that the ICC clearly retains continuous jurisdiction over alleged crimes against humanity that occurred between Nov. 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.