Manila, June 11 -- The International Criminal Court's (ICC) plenary of judges unanimously rejected the motion of former president Rodrigo R. Duterte to disqualify Judges Reine Adelaide Sophia Alapini-Gansou and Maria del Socorro Flores Liera from ruling on the challenge to the court's jurisdiction over his case.

ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane said the plenary of judges convened on June 9 to consider Duterte's request.

"The plenary of judges, acting unanimously, decided to reject the Application. A fully reasoned decision of the plenary will follow," he wrote.

Duterte's defense team requested the ICC to disqualify the judges from adjudicating on the issue of ICC jurisdiction, pointing out the two had "prior involvement in the most sub...