The ICC Judges Who Ordered Duterte’s Arrest.
4 min read
MARCH 15,2025
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, long known for his controversial war on drugs and unapologetic stance on human rights, now faces international justice. On March 11, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a 15-page arrest warrant against Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity. The decision came from the ICC judges of Pre-Trial Chamber I—three distinguished women: Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc (Romania), Judge Socorro Flores Liera (Mexico), and Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou (Benin).
This moment carries poetic justice. Duterte, criticized for his remarks about women, now faces trial under three accomplished female judges. Who are they, and what makes them formidable in international law? Let’s take a closer look.
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The ICC Judges: Iulia Antoanella Motoc – Expert in International Law and Human Rights
Romanian Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc is a seasoned expert in international law and human rights. She joined the International Criminal Court in 2024, with her term running until 2033. Before this, she served as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) from 2013 to 2023, handling cases on corruption, sexual violence, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Motoc’s academic background is impressive. She holds a law degree from the University of Bucharest, a master’s and doctorate in international law from Paul Cézanne University Aix-Marseille III in France, and a PhD in philosophy from the University of Bucharest. She was also a senior fellow at New York University and Yale Law School.
Beyond the courtroom, Motoc has taught European and international law at the University of Bucharest and has lectured at European Institute Florence, University Paris I, and The Hague Academy of International Law.
Her United Nations work is significant. As a UN Special Rapporteur, she documented crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo and helped draft UN guidelines on extreme poverty and indigenous rights.
Currently, she is handling cases concerning Israel’s actions in Gaza and Venezuela’s alleged crimes against humanity.
The ICC Judges: Reine Alapini-Gansou: The Human Rights Defender Who Took on Putin
Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin has served at the ICC since 2018, with her term set to end in 2027. She has spent her career defending human rights in Africa, documenting and prosecuting rights violations.
Before joining the ICC, Gansou was a leader in the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, serving as chairperson from 2009 to 2012 and as a special rapporteur on human rights defenders from 2005 to 2009 and 2012 to 2017.
Gansou’s legal experience is extensive. She was a judge at the Permanent Court of Arbitration and worked with the World Health Organization on human rights protections for individuals with mental illnesses. She holds advanced law degrees from Maastricht University (Netherlands), Lomé University (Togo), Bhutan, and Lyon 3 University (France).
Her most notable case? Signing the ICC’s arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. Moscow responded by placing her under an “arrest in absentia” order.
At the ICC, she has handled several high-profile cases, including Palestine and Venezuela.
The ICC Judges: Socorro Flores Liera: Mexico’s Fierce Advocate for Justice
Mexican Judge Socorro Flores Liera joined the ICC in 2021, with her term running until 2030. Before this, she was a top diplomat in Mexico’s foreign service, serving as Mexico’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva from 2017 to 2021.
Her involvement with international law dates back to the 1998 Rome Statute negotiations, which established the ICC. She has represented Mexico in major cases, including the Avena case against the United States in 2003, where Mexico challenged the U.S. for violating the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by denying legal aid to Mexican nationals on death row.
Liera’s expertise lies in public international law. She earned her degrees from Universidad Iberoamericana and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. In the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Relations, she held roles focusing on Latin America, global issues, and international law.
A Historic Moment for International Justice
Duterte’s ICC arrest warrant marks a turning point in global justice. The three women judges—Motoc, Gansou, and Liera—bring vast experience in human rights law, diplomacy, and criminal justice.
For Duterte, who dismissed international institutions and made controversial statements about women, the irony is clear. The system he scorned is now holding him accountable, led by three accomplished female judges who have taken on world leaders before.
This case highlights the ICC’s role in prosecuting crimes against humanity. No leader is above the law. As the world watches, these judges will shape Duterte’s fate and reinforce the power of international justice.
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