The Hague, Netherlands – In August, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp appealed for the disqualification of ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from his crimes against humanity charges.
Based on the Defense’s argument, Khan poses a conflict of interest in the case, citing his previous participation in a similar drug war case in the Philippines.
Before becoming ICC’s Chief prosecutor in 2021, Khan, as a private lawyer for hire, represented alleged victims of war on drugs in the Philippines way back 2018.
Duterte’s camp argued that due to this prior representation in a similar case faced by FPRRD in the ICC, this may affect his impartiality over the course of the investigation, as the Chief Prosecutor.
The defense added that Khan’s personal interest may prevail, and push for Duterte’s conviction using the information he gathered and obtained from the previous case.
In a document not publicized yet, the ICC Appeals judges disqualified Khan from participating in Dutetre’s case.
The court sided with the defense’s argument over possible conflict of interest from Khan’s end, and may show bias in the case.
Presently, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor has no response yet regarding the decision.
VP SARA SAYS DEFENSE WILL CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR FPRRD’S TRIAL
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte welcomed the decision but confirms that she have not read the official document yet.
Despite the disqualification, VP Sara said that the defense will not be complacent and will continue its preparations over the case.
On her end, VP Sara noted that she continues to communicate with more lawyers to exhaust more options for the former President’s case.
Presently, VP sara said that she cannot give any update about the status of the case as this is confidential and accessible only to the legal counsel and party.
She also took the opportunity to commend the Senate with its recent resolution urging ICC to grant FPRRD a house arrest under humanitarian considerations.
Amid this, she said that she will not be talking with President Marcos for the sake of her father.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News