According to VP Sara Duterte, they have not considered any Filipino lawyers yet.
Speaking to reporters, VP Sara Duterte revealed that there are no Filipino lawyers yet included in the legal team for former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) holds custody of former president Rodrigo Duterte after he was arrested due to crimes against humanity. This is in connection with the war on drugs during his time as president.
Duterte made his initial appearance before the pre-trial chamber of the ICC and was represented by former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.
Reportedly, Harry Roque is part of his legal team, however, based on a previous article, Vice President Sara Duterte shared that Roque and Medialdea are not included anymore in the legal team they are making to defend the former president.
“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. They want Roque to focus on other things he needs to focus on, such as seeking asylum.
Nicholas Kaufman was officially appointed as Duterte’s legal counsel. He has 34 years of experience in international law, and further cementing his experience, he has represented former Congo Vice President Jean Pierre Bemba and former Central African Republic (CAR) minister Maxime Mokom before the ICC for the same charges Duterte is facing.
“Wala pa pong Filipino lawyers ngayon, ‘yun ay ginagawan ng shortlist sa ngayon,” the vice president said in an update while talking to the reporters.
She is currently in The Hague and is planning to go back to the Philippines once the ICC clears the lawyers appointed. She’s been in there since the former president was arrested on March 11.
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