The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed a request by the legal team of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to disqualify two judges handling his crimes against humanity case, ruling that there is no indication of bias.
In a decision published on July 3, the ICC’s plenary of judges unanimously concluded that Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera acted within the scope of their judicial duties at all times. The ruling emphasized that the Rome Statute, the court’s governing treaty, fully permits the two judges to perform their assigned legal functions.
“There is no appearance of bias or lack of impartiality arising from the judges’ ordinary exercise of legal duties,” the ICC stated. The tribunal rejected the disqualification request, which Duterte’s camp submitted in June, citing concerns over potential partiality in addressing jurisdictional matters.
Duterte, who is currently under ICC custody in The Hague, Netherlands, faces charges in connection with his administration’s bloody “war on drugs,” which allegedly resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings and illegal detentions.
In response to the ruling, CenterLaw Executive Director and ICC-accredited counsel Gilbert Andres explained in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB that the ICC will also be releasing the Document Containing Charges (DCC) today. This document, similar to the “information” used in Philippine courts, will outline the specific allegations against Duterte.
“This is where we will see whether the charges include only murder or also involve other crimes such as arbitrary detention,” Andres said in Filipino.
The confirmation of charges hearing is scheduled for September 23, 2025. During this proceeding, the court will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to move forward with a full trial.
The ICC’s latest decision marks a significant development in the long-running investigation into Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign, reinforcing the court’s stance on maintaining judicial independence and impartiality throughout the proceedings.