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Saturday, Jun 07, 2025
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US Sanctions ICC Judges Amid Duterte's Crimes Against Humanity Case
Four International Criminal Court judges, including the one assigned to Duterte's case, face US sanctions over alleged politicization of the court.
Four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have been sanctioned by the administration of US President Donald Trump for issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reviving an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan.
The sanctioned judges include Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza from Peru, René Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou from Benin, and Beti Hohler from Slovenia.
Judge Alapini Gansou is among those presiding over the case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration's anti-drug campaign, which rights groups allege resulted in thousands of deaths.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the ICC, claiming the sanctions were a response to what he termed 'illegitimate and baseless actions' targeting the US and its ally, Israel.
Rubio asserted that the ICC is a politicized institution that wrongly assumes broad authority to investigate and prosecute individuals affiliated with the United States and its allies.
In response to the sanctions, the ICC condemned the Trump administration's actions, characterizing them as an attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial entity designed to provide justice to victims of atrocities.
In related news, the Philippine House of Representatives is moving forward with impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, despite suggestions that the articles of impeachment could be withdrawn.
Representatives, including San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, affirmed that the prosecution panel has no intention of retracting the impeachment articles, emphasizing the constitutional obligation to proceed with the case.
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced that police contingency plans have been prepared to maintain public order during the impeachment trial, which is set to commence on June 11. Torre indicated that the police are equipped to respond to any unrest that may arise during the proceedings.
Additionally, the ICC prosecution has submitted a seventh batch of evidence against Duterte, including 129 new items submitted by the prosecution in an ongoing investigation into his anti-drug campaign.
As of May 30, a total of 130,000 documents are under review for the upcoming hearing scheduled for September 23.
The sanctioned judges include Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza from Peru, René Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou from Benin, and Beti Hohler from Slovenia.
Judge Alapini Gansou is among those presiding over the case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration's anti-drug campaign, which rights groups allege resulted in thousands of deaths.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the ICC, claiming the sanctions were a response to what he termed 'illegitimate and baseless actions' targeting the US and its ally, Israel.
Rubio asserted that the ICC is a politicized institution that wrongly assumes broad authority to investigate and prosecute individuals affiliated with the United States and its allies.
In response to the sanctions, the ICC condemned the Trump administration's actions, characterizing them as an attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial entity designed to provide justice to victims of atrocities.
In related news, the Philippine House of Representatives is moving forward with impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, despite suggestions that the articles of impeachment could be withdrawn.
Representatives, including San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, affirmed that the prosecution panel has no intention of retracting the impeachment articles, emphasizing the constitutional obligation to proceed with the case.
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced that police contingency plans have been prepared to maintain public order during the impeachment trial, which is set to commence on June 11. Torre indicated that the police are equipped to respond to any unrest that may arise during the proceedings.
Additionally, the ICC prosecution has submitted a seventh batch of evidence against Duterte, including 129 new items submitted by the prosecution in an ongoing investigation into his anti-drug campaign.
As of May 30, a total of 130,000 documents are under review for the upcoming hearing scheduled for September 23.
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