ICC rejects Duterte's appeal to excuse judges

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I has rejected an appeal by former President Rodrigo Duterte's legal team to excuse judges Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Maria del Socorro Flores Liera from ruling on his crimes against humanity case.

On May 1, Duterte’s defense team challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal over the Philippines and sought the excusal of judges based on perceived bias due to their prior rulings.

The chamber, led by Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, denied the appeal in a resolution dated Tuesday, May 6, noting that under Article 41 of the Rome Statute and rules 34 and 35 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, judges' excusal can only be requested directly by the concerned judge before the Presidency.

The court rejected Duterte's request for recusal on the grounds that it is not within the authority of his legal team to make such a request but rather must come from the judges themselves or the prosecution.

High-ranking government officials instructed by the Ombudsman to submit counter-affidavits regarding Duterte’s arrest are now complying with this order, as palace spokesperson Clarissa A. Castro confirmed on Wednesday.

Duterte is currently under custody in The Hague, Netherlands, with his pre-trial hearing scheduled for September 23, where charges against him will be confirmed. Despite his detention, he remains a candidate for Davao City mayor.