Sara: ICC prosecutor’s DQ no impact on Duterte’s case

MANILA, Philippines — The defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte continues to prepare for the International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings despite the disqualification of chief prosecutor Karim Khan from handling the case, Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday said.

Speaking in Zamboanga City during her office’s “One Million Trees” planting program, the Vice President said the prosecutor’s removal would not significantly affect her father’s case in The Hague, the Netherlands.

“The disqualification of the ICC prosecutor is not important to the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte because the role of the prosecution and defense remains the same,” she said. “In the prosecution, it doesn’t really matter who the prosecutor is, because they will still do the same investigation and the same case buildup.”

“I was not able to read the paper on the contents of the disqualification decision but what I know is that he has a conflict of interest because he has representations from alleged or supposed witnesses,” she added.

In May, Khan temporarily stepped aside amid an ongoing United Nations inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct.

In August, Duterte’s lawyers sought Khan’s disqualification, arguing that his involvement in communications from victims of the former president’s anti-drug campaign created a conflict of interest.

Duterte said she remains in constant communication with her father’s lawyers, who regularly update her on the status of the case.

“I am being updated by the lawyers on what they are doing. I always talk to them, including what should be done for his case. Last night, I also talked to the Filipino lawyers about what we can do for former president Rodrigo Duterte,” she said, noting that they continue to explore possible legal remedies for her father.

Echoing the Vice President’s statements, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti also believes that Khan’s disqualification will have minimal impact on the case against the former president.

“The disqualification has minimal impact on the case because since May, Karim Khan has been on leave. There is an investigation ongoing as regards his alleged sexual misconduct and he has turned over the prosecution to (ICC deputy prosecutor) Mame Mandiaye Niang,” she said in an interview with One PH yesterday.

Khan, she said, made several disclosures regarding his previous involvement in the case.

“He has recused himself from several activities from the Office of the Prosecutor… He has taken steps (to ensure) that there will be no contamination or tainting of the evidence,” Conti added.