Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760509397167cropped-Screen Shot 2025-10-15 at 2.21.41 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Reuters reported that the ICC appeals judges had disqualified chief prosecutor Karim Khan from Duterte’s case due to a possible conflict of interest. International Criminal Court/Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte believes there is indeed a conflict of interest on the part of International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan, which led to his reported disqualification from the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>Reuters reported that the ICC appeals judges had disqualified chief prosecutor Karim Khan from Duterte’s case due to a possible conflict of interest.</p><p>The younger Duterte was asked to comment on the said decision, but she said that she has yet to read the said document.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/desire-for-ex-pres-duterte-to-held-accountable-for-drug-war-deaths-not-useful-vp-sara-1608">Pinoys&#x27; desire for ex-Pres. Duterte to be held accountable for drug war deaths &#x27;not useful,&#x27; says VP Sara</a></div><p>“Hindi ko pa po nababasa ang papel kung ano ‘yung laman ng desisyon ng diskwalipikasyon pero ang pagkakaalam ko po ay meron talaga siyang conflict of interest dahil meron siyang mga representasyon noon sa mga alleged or supposed witnesses,” the Vice President told reporters in a chance interview in Zamboanga City on Wednesday.</p><p>Sara Duterte was pertaining to Khan’s participation in 2018 in the legal team representing more than 100 victims of the Duterte administration&#x27;s war on drugs.</p><p>The team petitioned then-Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to apply to the Pre-Trial Chamber for authorization to open an investigation into the Philippines&#x27; situation.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEFENSE </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>When asked if the decision would be better for her father’s legal camp, Sara said what matters most is the defense’s preparation against all possible evidence that the prosecution might throw against them.</p><p>“Sa prosecution naman kasi hindi mahalaga kung sino yung prosecutor eh kasi pareho lang din naman talaga yung gagawin nila na pag-iimbestiga, pareho lang din ‘yung gagawin nilang case build up no. So ang mahalaga talaga is yung preparation nung defense team ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa lahat ng mga posibleng ilabas na witnesses at ebidensya ng prosecution,” she said.</p><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">Khan says no grounds to remove him from Duterte’s ICC case</a></div><p>In August, the Duterte 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”.</p><p>Khan asked to reject the request, explaining that his role back then did not affect his current work. </p><p>He has been on self-imposed leave due to allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g7FhBxsci6I?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte said what matters most is the defense’s preparation against all possible evidence that the prosecution might throw against her father.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte said what matters most is the defense’s preparation against all possible evidence that the prosecution might throw against her father.

VP Sara reacts to reported disqualification of ICC prosecutor from dad's case

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VP Sara reacts to reported disqualification of ICC prosecutor from dad's case

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 15, 2025 02:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

ICC

Rodrigo Duterte

Karim Khan

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