MANILA, Philippines- Hiniling ng dalawang hukom na humahawak sa crimes against humanity case ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa International Criminal Court (ICC) sa tribunal na ibasura ang disqualification bid laban sa kanila, tinawag itong walang basehan.
Sa 3-page document na may petsang May 22, binigyang-diin nina Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou at Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera na tumatalima sila sa kanilang tungkulin na maging patas sa pagsasagawa ng kanilang judicial functions.
“[T]here are no grounds to doubt our impartiality in the current case and none of the criteria established under article 41(2) of the Rome Statute are met,” anito.
“We, as judges, act at all times in accordance with our judicial duties under the Rome Statute and kindly request the Plenary of Judges to reject the Disqualification Request,” dagdag pa.
Nauna nang inihirit ng kampo ni Duterte sa Presidency na idiskwalipika sina Alpini-Gansou at Flores Liera mula sa paghatol dahil sa isyu ng hurisdiksyon.
Subalit, sinabi nila na noong talakayin ng ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 ang isyu ng hurisdiksyon sa kaso ng Pilipinas, ginawa ito alinsunod sa mga tungkulin, saklaw sa limitasyon ng proceeding, at walang “prejudice” sa “future determinations” ng parehong isyu.
Iginiit nitong kinonsidera lamang ng chamber ang isyu ng hurisdiksyon kaugnay sa tanong kung may basehan para ituloy ng ICC Prosecutor ang imbestigasyon nito sa bansa.
“Thus, it is untenable to suggest that judges cannot adjudicate a matter which is legally within their competence just because they previously issued judicial decisions at different stages of the proceedings in the same Situation on the basis of different arguments,” anito.
“As mentioned earlier, judges are professionals capable of deciding on issues before them relying solely and exclusively on the evidence and submissions adduced in the particular case,” dagdag pa.
Si Duterte ay kasalukuyang nasa ilalim ng kustodiya ng ICC sa The Hague, Netherlands.
Kasado ang confirmation of charges sa September 23, 2025. RNT/SA
