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Khan’s disqualification from Duterte case “no significant interruption” in prosecution’s work - lawyer

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The reported disqualification of International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity case would not hamper in the prosecution’s work, according to a lawyer for the drug war victims.Reuters earlier reported that the ICC appeals judges have ruled in favor of the Defense and “disqualified” Khan from Duterte’s case due to a possible conflict of interest.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/9/icc-prosecutor-karim-khan-urges-chamber-to-dismiss-disqualification-request-in-duterte-case-0121">ICC prosecutor Karim Khan urges chamber to dismiss disqualification request in Duterte case</a></div>“If the rumors were true, we do not anticipate a significant interruption in the work of the Office of the Prosecutor even with the disqualification of Karim Khan,” ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti said in a statement.Conti believes that the prosecution of the case “has been ably carried out by the Philippine team and led by deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang” since Khan went on self-imposed leave in May this year due to the investigation into unrelated sexual harassment allegations against him.  Conti also emphasized that they are “not fully convinced that there is basis to disqualify” Khan, arguing his role in assisting a group of victims was made prior to his appointment as chief prosecutor in 2021.“As disclosed, he had assisted a group of victims in sending a communication to the [Office of the Prosecutor] OTP prior to his appointment. We see no significant or fundamental conflict of interest between the victims and the OTP,” Conti stated.“Best if we wait for the decision of the appeals chamber to be made public so we can fully appreciate the matter,” she added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/19/icc-chief-prosecutor-khan-says-no-grounds-to-remove-him-from-duterte-s-icc-case-2329">ICC chief prosecutor Khan says no grounds to remove him from Duterte’s ICC case</a></div>In August, the Defense team sought Khan’s disqualification from the case, arguing that Khan’s former representation of an alleged policy of extra-judicial drug-related killings in the Philippines and his role in the trial of Duterte can be considered as an “irreconcilable conflict of interest”.Khan had asked to reject the request, explaining that his role back then will not affect his current work.

The reported disqualification of International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity case would not hamper in the prosecution’s work, according to a lawyer of the drug war victims.

The reported disqualification of International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity case would not hamper in the prosecution’s work, according to a lawyer of the drug war victims.

Khan’s disqualification from Duterte ICC case will not hamper prosecution's work: lawyer

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Khan’s disqualification from Duterte ICC case will not hamper prosecution's work: lawyer

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 15, 2025 06:39 PM PHT

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ICC

International Criminal Court

Defense

Office of the Prosecutor

Rodrigo Duterte

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