The International Criminal Court (ICC) appeals judges have disqualified British lawyer and Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from handling the crimes against humanity case involving former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to newly released court documents.
As reported by Reuters, Khan was not removed from his overall post as ICC Chief Prosecutor but was barred from participating in Duterte’s case following a judicial request for disqualification.
Khan has been on administrative leave since May 2025 over allegations of sexual misconduct, though he has not been permanently removed from his position.
In August, Duterte’s defense team filed a motion seeking Khan’s disqualification, citing a conflict of interest arising from his previous involvement in assisting alleged victims of Duterte’s war on drugs before joining the ICC.
The ICC Appeals Chamber has now found potential grounds for bias or partiality, determining that Khan’s prior role could compromise the impartiality required in prosecuting the case.
The public is now awaiting updates on the confirmation of charges hearing against Duterte, which was postponed from its original schedule of September 23.
Khan’s removal from the case marks a significant turn in the long-running international proceedings over the controversial “war on drugs” campaign during Duterte’s presidency.