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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider ICC grants FPRRD legal team permission to respond to jurisdiction challenge

ICC grants FPRRD legal team permission to respond to jurisdiction challenge

Published Jul 1, 2025 09:19 pm
DAVAO CITY – The International Criminal Court has approved the request of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team to submit a response in their ongoing challenge of the court’s jurisdiction over the case filed against him.
The court has allowed the defense to respond to two specific arguments raised by the prosecution, following their earlier submissions.
The ICC directed the former President's defense team to file a written response not exceeding 10 pages and submit it no later than Wednesday, July 2.
The Duterte camp continues efforts to dispute the ICC’s authority to pursue the investigation on alleged crimes committed during his controversial war on drugs.
The former President’s legal counsel argued that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019 voided the ICC’s jurisdiction.
The prosecution, however, maintains that the court retains the authority to investigate crimes committed while the Philippines was still a state party to the ICC.
The response is expected to address these contrasting interpretations of the ICC’s jurisdiction and could play a crucial role in determining whether the case will move forward.
The ICC is currently evaluating whether to proceed with a full investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during former President Duterte’s term as president, particularly in connection with killings tied to the war on drugs.
The reply, once filed, is expected to be one of the final pleadings before the Pre-Trial Chamber makes a ruling on whether the case will proceed under the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Former President Duterte's lawyers contested the jurisdiction of the ICC and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
In a 38-page submission dated May 1, legal counsels Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs argued that the case lacks a valid legal foundation and urged the Court to drop the proceedings.
The defense team expressed optimism that the former President could return to the Philippines even before his next scheduled appearance before the ICC in September.
The defense contended that the conditions required for the ICC to exercise jurisdiction were not fulfilled when the Pre-Trial Chamber I authorized an investigation into alleged crimes committed during former President Duterte’s drug campaign in 2021.
The legal team reiterated that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019 further undermines the court’s authority to pursue the case, which remains under review as both sides continue to present arguments on the matter of jurisdiction.

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