There will be no Salvador Medialdea and Harry Roque to defend former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Vice President Sara Duterte says Salvador Medialdea and Harry Roque are no longer a part of the team for the defense of Rodrigo Duterte.
On March 11, former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested through a warrant released by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This was related to alleged crimes against humanity he had committed during his time as the country’s president through his war on drugs.
On March 14, Duterte appeared before Pre-Trial Chamber I (“the Chamber”) of the ICC and was represented by Salvador C. Medialdea, one of his ICC legal counsels. It was also reported that Harry Roque is part of his legal team, however, in an update, Vice President Sara Duterte informed that they will no longer be in the defense team of the former leader.
In an interview after her recent visit to her father at the detention facility, she shared this information. They have talked to several attorneys already, and have talked to one more to defend her father, who is coming soon. The team will be headed by Atty. Nicholas Kaufman.
“Once maayos na yung team for ICC, magwi-withdraw si Atty. Medialdea kasi meron lang limited na mga slots for lawyers, and we want all the lawyers on board na merong ICC experience,” she said, stressing that they prefer attorneys who already have ICC experience.
As for Roque, there are possible conflicts regarding his stay, and they don’t want complications. He is seeking asylum, and they would want him to focus on that while they would want their lawyers to focus on the case.
Meanwhile, the VP was granted a single-day visit. Her request for a five-day daily visit was declined, and the attempts of Roque and Senator Robin Padilla to visit were unsuccessful.
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