Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Dad Rodrigo’s ICC Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President reaffirmed her trust on the ICC lawyer of former President Rodrigo Duterte despite his recent issues with Harry Roque and Honeylet Avanceña.
The legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his case before the International Criminal Court is composed of all foreign lawyers. His lead counsel is British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.
The former President is detained under the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands for around five (5) months now. His youngest daughter, Kitty Duterte, recently confirmed that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was brought to the hospital for his routine check-up considering his age but assured that he is okay.
Kitty who admitted that she was so worried of her father when she was still in the Philippines claimed that the former President is healthier than she expected. According to her, he is more lively and sharp now.
Kitty Duterte’s visit came after the suspension of the visitation rights of her mother, Honeylet Avanceña. It was allegedly due to a phone conversation between her and the former President about legal matters.
Honeylet Avanceña previously called on Duterte’s ICC lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, not to deprive them from asking other lawyers’ opinions. Duterte’s lawyer refuted the claim of Honeylet Avanceña saying that the counsels are allegedly hands off when it comes to visitation rights.
Prior to it, Kaufman claimed that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte allegedly wants Harry Roque to stop interfering in his ICC case and just return to the Philippines. According to him, the former President is not interested to see his former spokesman nor be assisted by him.
Despite the recent issues, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte recently reaffirmed her trust on lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. Based on a report on GMA News, the Vice President stressed that it was really former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte who chose his lawyer for his ICC legal battle.
“Of course, yes, oo, kasi siya yung pinili ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na lawyer so we only follow kung ano yung choice ng client,” the Vice President said.
Furthermore, based on the report, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also stressed that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is the client and the professional arrangement is between him and his lawyer. According to her, as long as there is an order from her father, they will follow.
“Siya (Rodrigo) naman yung kliyente, nasa kanila naman yung professional arrangement. As long as nagsabi si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na yan ang aking mga abogado, susunod kami and mag-cooperate kami kung ano kailangan,” she expressed.
Ahead of the confirmation of charges set on September 23, the camp of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte wants the ICC prosecutor disqualified despite failing to oust two (2) ICC judges before.