The defense team of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has formally appealed the pre-trial chamber's decision rejecting his challenge to the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction. The notice of appeal was submitted on October 28, urging reversal of the October 23 ruling. Duterte's lawyers seek a finding that no legal basis exists for continuing the proceedings and his immediate release from detention.
In Manila, Philippines, the defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte has formally appealed the pre-trial chamber's decision rejecting his challenge to the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction. The notice of appeal, signed by lawyers Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs, was submitted to the ICC Appeals Chamber on October 28.
The appeal targets the October 23 decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I, which ruled that the ICC retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines during its membership in the court. The pre-trial judges determined that the Philippines' 2019 withdrawal from the ICC does not affect investigations into crimes starting from 2011 to 2019.
Duterte's lawyers urged the Appeals Chamber to 'find that there exists no legal basis for the continuation' of the ICC proceedings against the former president. They also requested his 'immediate and unconditional release' from detention. This appeal forms part of Duterte's broader legal resistance to the ICC's probe into his war on drugs campaign, accused of resulting in thousands of deaths.
As of now, the ICC Appeals Chamber has not responded, but the outcome could significantly impact the future of the case against Duterte.