Duterte Convention Aims to Dismiss ICC Prosecutor Khan amidst Ongoing Case | The wRap Paraphrase
Vice President Sara Duterte has announced that a anticipated trial where she would defend herself will not occur, at least for the time being. Meanwhile, the focus in the International Criminal Court (ICC) has shifted to the case of Rodrigo Duterte, the former President, and the request for the disqualification of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan.
The Duterte defense team has raised concerns over a perceived conflict of interest and questioned Khan's integrity. This move follows accusations against Khan, including a voluntary leave he took amid an investigation into his alleged workplace sexual misconduct. The Duterte camp argues that these circumstances challenge Khan's moral character and suitability to handle the case.
The defense requested the ICC to remove Khan after failed attempts to oust ICC judges involved in the pretrial process. They argue that Khan's current leave and pending investigation undermine the presumption of his impartiality and high moral character expected of an ICC prosecutor. Additionally, the defense cited delays and withheld information from the prosecution as part of their challenge.
As of early August 2025, the ICC has accepted Duterte’s appeal to consider removing Khan from the case, and hearings on this matter are ongoing or pending rulings by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber.
Interestingly, Khan is also accused of having represented victims of the war on drugs as a private lawyer, which is causing the conflict of interest. However, no further details about this aspect of the case have been disclosed.
In separate news, the Sy family maintains their position at the top of the Forbes' 50 richest Filipinos list, but more information about their financial standing was not provided in this update.
Stay tuned for more updates as these developments continue to unfold.
The Duterte defense team is questioning the integrity and suitability of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, citing a perceived conflict of interest due to Khan's past representation of war on drugs victims and an investigation into alleged workplace sexual misconduct. Meanwhile, policy-and-legislation discussions and politics surrounding the anticipated trial of Vice President Sara Duterte have been temporarily set aside, with the focus shifting to the case of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
