The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed an appeal from former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team seeking the recusal of two judges from his ongoing crimes against humanity case.
In a decision dated May 6, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber clarified that only judges themselves may request to be excused, and such requests cannot be initiated by any party involved in the case. The ruling, signed by Presiding Judge Iulia Antonella Motoc, emphasized that no legal grounds exist for the defense’s appeal to excuse Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera.
The Duterte camp had argued that the judges may hold a perceived bias due to their previous rulings related to the same Philippine investigation. All three judges, including Motoc, signed the arrest warrant against Duterte.
Duterte’s legal team also filed a separate challenge questioning the ICC’s jurisdiction, claiming that the Philippines had already withdrawn from the Rome Statute by the time the investigation was launched.
The former president remains in ICC custody in The Hague, with the confirmation of charges hearing scheduled for September 23, 2025. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has submitted 139 pieces of evidence, including documents, videos, and witness testimonies, focusing on extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s tenure as both Davao mayor and Philippine president.