Judge recuses self from Duterte’s bid to disqualify 2 ICC judges

A judge has recused herself from ruling on the disqualification petition filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte against two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection to his crimes against humanity case.

In a 4-page document dated May 23, the ICC Plenary of Judges said that Judge Beti Hohler recused herself from the petition on May 13 due to her previous role as the prosecution trial lawyer on the case of the Philippines from 2019 to 2022.

Her request was granted by an ad hoc Presidency composed of Judge Tomoko Akane, Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala, and Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza.

Duterte’s camp previously requested the ICC Presidency to disqualify Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera from adjudicating on the issue of jurisdiction.

They said the disqualification will “ensure the autonomy and irreproachability of the judges as well as the efficient conduct of the proceedings.”

The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 previously denied the Duterte camp’s appeal to excuse Alapini-Gansou and Flores Liera.

Meanwhile, the plenary requested Alapini-Gansou and Flores to present their observations on the petition seeking to disqualify them.

Duterte is currently under the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.

The confirmation of charges will take place on September 23, 2025. —VAL, GMA Integrated News