Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Asks Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte about Calls To Change ICC Legal Team
RODRIGO DUTERTE – Vice President Sara Duterte said the former President does not want to change his lawyers for his case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Last November, the ICC rejected the interim release appeal of former Pres. Duterte. The Duterte family immediately issued a statement saying they accept the ruling of the foreign court “with open hearts”. At the hearing, he was represented by his lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman.
Former Pres. Duterte is detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands since March 2025. Since the transfer of his custody to the ICC, the Duterte siblings and their other family members were taking turns in visiting the former President inside the detention facility in The Hague.
Currently, it is Vice Pres. Sara Duterte who is in The Hague, Netherlands to visit former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte inside the ICC detention center. Recently, she asked the former President about the concern of some people regarding his lawyers for his ICC case.
There are concerns over the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte following a series of decisions of the foreign court not favoring the Duterte camp. Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte assured that she will ask father about the dissatisfaction of some people over his ICC legal team.
Based on News5 citing Alvin and Tourism, during an after-visit interview, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte shared that she has raised the concern of some Filipinos regarding his ICC legal team to former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. According to the Vice President, her father does not want a change of lawyers.
Vice Pres. Duterte claimed that former Pres. Duterte had instructions over the ICC legal team but she will not anymore share what her father said.
“‘Ang tanong kahapon ay merong concern ang mga detractors at ang mga supporters sa legal team ni President Duterte na hindi sila satisfied sa ginagawa ng legal team,’ Tama ba ang pagka-ano ko? Tinanong ko siya, tinanong ko si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Sabi ko exactly kung ano ‘yung tanong ninyo, ‘Gusto mo bang palitan at hindi ka ba satisfied?’ Sabi niya, ‘Hindi palitan pero meron siyang mga instructions na ibinigay sa legal team,'” the Vice President said based on the post.
Previously, the ICC ruled that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial. The foreign court immediately announced the new schedule for the confirmation of charges hearing of Duterte which is set on February.
The court ordered a check-up on the former President after his lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, claimed that he is allegedly suffering from a cognitive impairment. The confirmation of charges hearing that was initially set last September 23 was postponed by the foreign court following the claim of the British-Israeli Lawyer.