ICC, OPCV urge appeals chamber to reject Duterte's jurisdiction appeal

The Office of the Prosecutor and the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) have urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber to reject former President Rodrigo Duterte's appeal concerning the court's jurisdiction.

In separate filings, both offices argued that Duterte's appeal lacks merit and that the ICC's jurisdiction over him should be upheld, stating that the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute does not prevent the ICC from investigating issues that arose when the country was a member.

The case centers on whether Mr. Duterte bears responsibility for thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings tied to anti-drug operations, which prosecutors describe as a "widespread and systematic attack" against civilians, falling squarely under crimes against humanity.

Duterte's camp argues that because the ICC formally opened its investigation in 2021, two years after the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute took effect, the tribunal no longer has jurisdiction.

The ICC's Trial Chamber I had previously rejected Duterte's argument that the court lost authority over the Philippines after its withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Duterte has asked the ICC Appeals Chamber for permission to reply to the prosecution's response regarding his appeal.