Duterte's defense withdraws request to disqualify ICC Prosecutor Khan

The defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte has withdrawn its request before the ICC Appeals Chamber to disqualify Prosecutor Karim Khan from handling the case.

In a document dated Aug. 15, 2025, Duterte's lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman stated there is no reason to doubt Khan's impartiality despite disclosures about his past professional links to individuals connected to the Philippine case.

Khan had previously represented alleged victims of the Duterte administration's drug war as a private lawyer, which prompted Kaufman's initial concern over potential conflict of interest; however, Kaufman now accepts Khan's explanation that the omission in his initial disclosure was an 'inadvertent oversight'.

The Prosecutor maintains that there are no grounds for his removal from the case and has assured the defense that he is aware of his duty to inform the Pre-Trial Chamber of any changes in circumstances.

Former President Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, and is currently detained in Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, facing charges of crimes against humanity for his war on drugs.

Government records show over 6,000 drug suspects were killed during the previous administration's drug war, though human rights organizations estimate that the actual death toll may be as high as 30,000.