Julia Christine Botin

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s participation in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte is not minimal but not decisive enough to block the case moving forward, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti said Thursday.Speaking to DZMM, Conti said the ICC disqualified Khan from the Duterte case due to a &quot;reasonable appearance of bias.&quot;“Ang tantiya ng ICC may appearance of bias. Ang sabi nila, wala naman kaming nakitang indikasyon na nagkaroon ng problema o naging prejudiced siya o meron siyang ginawang labag pero ang iniiwasan natin ay ang appearance of bias kaya tinanggal na muna siya,” the lawyer said.&quot;Kahit kami hindi kumbinsido na meron bias pero sabi ng court kahit appearance of bias ayaw nila, iiwasan nila. Opportunity pa lang...kumbaga tukso, ilalayo ka na.&quot;Conti noted that even before the ICC’s decision, Khan had already taken a self-imposed leave of absence last May due to numerous issues including accusations of sexual misconduct. She said Khan also recused himself from another case in Venezuela.“May pa lang, out na siya sa eksena sa atin kaya may nag take charge na… bago pa ‘yung arrest, nagdisclose siya sa kanyang team, ‘Alam niyo, meron akong tinulungan dati kaya hindI ako sasali.’”&quot;Ang partisipasyon niya hindi naman minimal pero kumbaga hindi rin naman magiging decisive para i-block forward itong kaso.&quot;She added she expects the prosecution of the case to remain &quot;business as usual&quot; with deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang taking the cudgels since Khan’s leave of absence.Conti warned those celebrating Khan&#x27;s disqualification that Niang has been involved in the Duterte case since the start.&quot;Alam niyo ba na mas malakas na kalaban si Mame Mandiaye Niang? Siya ay isang judge, justice. Ganung level &#x27;yan...Si Niang, &#x27;yung in charge...Nung nag issue ng warrant of arrest [kay Duterte], si Niang &#x27;yung tumrabaho kaya hindi siya &#x27;yung tipong nagrelyebo. Bahagi na talaga,&quot; she said. In its decision, ICC judges ruled that the “Appeals Chambers does not consider that actual bias on the prosecutor has been demonstrated.&quot;However, they said that &quot;a number of factors may give rise to an objectively reasonable appearance of bias in the eyes of a reasonable observer.&quot;Khan&#x27;s involvement with the victims meant he &quot;could be expected to have formed an opinion on the individual criminal responsibility of Mr Duterte.&quot;This could &quot;adversely affect the required impartiality in his current role,&quot; the judges decided.Referring to the allegations of sexual abuse, which Khan denies, the defense said this affected the presumption of the prosecutor&#x27;s &quot;high moral character.&quot;The ruling comes days after the ICC decided Duterte would remain in custody as judges assess his fitness to be tried. Conti said this process could take six months to a year.They said the 80-year-old posed a possible flight risk.<div> With Agence France-Presse</div>

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s participation in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte is not minimal but not decisive enough to block the case moving forward, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti said Thursday.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s participation in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte is not minimal but not decisive enough to block the case moving forward, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti said Thursday.

Karim Khan participation in Duterte case 'not minimal, but not decisive' - lawyer

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Karim Khan participation in Duterte case 'not minimal, but not decisive' - lawyer

David Dizon,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 16, 2025 11:10 AM PHT

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karim khan

international criminal court

rodrigo duterte

crimes against humanity

icc

kristina conti

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