Duterte camp wants 2 ICC judges disqualified

The camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking the disqualification of two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I (PTC I) for having already supposedly decided on the issue of jurisdiction on the former Chief Executive's case.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

In an 11-page document dated May 12 and addressed to “The Presidency,” Duterte’s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman formally sought the removal of Judges María del Socorro, Flores Liera, and Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou from deciding on the jurisdiction challenge.

As a second vice president of The Presidency, Kaufman also wants Alapini-Gansou to be disqualified from deciding on the request.

“The Defense’s request to disqualify the Judges will ensure the autonomy and irreproachability of the judges as well as the efficient conduct of the proceedings by engendering a minimum degree of disturbance to the Chamber’s current composition,” the document read.