Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s Lawyer Mentions Pres. Bongbong Marcos during Confirmation of Charges Hearing
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President allegedly failed to keep his promise to protect former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Last March 11, 2025, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested by the Philippine authorities who assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The former Chief Executive came from Hong Kong then.
Duterte was detained at the Villamor Air Base for several hours and was flown out of the Philippines on the eve of the same day. The unexpected turn of events caught national attention and earned the Marcos Jr. administration massive criticisms from many Filipinos.
Malacañang previously insisted that Pres. Bongbong Marcos did not commit betrayal over the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. According to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, the government only implemented the laws.
Castro further stressed that the Philippine authorities acted on the arrest of the former President in lieu of its commitment with the Interpol. The Malacañang press official claimed that there was allegedly no betrayal over what happened.
“Kung iisipin po natin, wala pong ginawang betrayal ang Pangulo kanino man po dahil po tinutupad lamang ang sarili nating batas. So mas mahirap po siguro magkaroon ng betrayal ang administrasyon sa sarili nating batas,” she expressed.
Yesterday, February 23, the confirmation of charges hearing of the case against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte started. The former Chief Executive is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged crimes against humanity filed by the ICC prosecutor.
At the confirmation of charges hearing, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, mentioned Pres. Bongbong Marcos. Based on a report on News5, the British-Israeli Lawyer claimed that Marcos Jr. allegedly failed to protect Duterte from the ICC.
Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos allegedly signed a letter which contained the promise that the Philippine government will not assist the ICC. Based on the report, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer claimed that the President supposedly breached the promise when his predecessor faced the tribunal.
“Well, as we know, he failed to keep that promise,” Kaufman said.
The British-Israeli Lawyer also claimed that Marcos Jr. allegedly “set out to neutralize Rodrigo Duterte and his legacy”. According to him, the former President was allegedly “unconstitutionally and unceremoniously” brought to The Hague.
Amid the confirmation of charges hearing, the lawyer of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte expressed his hope that the ICC will dismiss the charges against his client. According to him, they will ask the foreign court for his return to the Philippines.
Well, Kaufman should have made it public the signed letter of promise to make his accusation authentic, to avoid being branded as fake propaganda.