Nicholas Kaufman, Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s Lawyer, Speaks at ICC Proceedings
RODRIGO DUTERTE’S LAWYER – Nicholas Kaufman expressed their camp’s hope that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will dismiss the “grievously misplaced and politically motivated charges” against the former President.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was allowed by the ICC to skip the confirmation of charges hearing. The said legal proceedings which was on hold for a few months since September 2025 started yesterday February 23 and will run until the 27th of this month.
Duterte waived his right to personally appear at the ICC confirmation of charges hearing. According to the former President, he declines to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the foreign court over him so he will not attend the hearing.
In his letter to the ICC, the former President also stated that he is old and frail and has accepted that he might die inside the ICC detention facility. He asked for respect to his peace inside his cell where ICC placed him.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, represented him at the confirmation of charges hearing which has started yesterday. Six (6) Filipino lawyers were also added to the ICC legal team of the former Chief Executive and most of them have worked with Duterte during his tenure. They are the following:
- Salvador Medialdea
- Martin Delgra III
- Silvestre Bello III
- Alfredo Lim Jr.
- Caesar Dulay
- Salvador Panelo
Lawyers Salvador Medialdea and Salvador Panelo who were added to the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte were his former executive secretary and chief legal counsel, respectively.
Based on a report on GMA News, at the confirmation of charges hearing, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, expressed their camp’s hope that the ICC will dismiss the charges against the former Chief Executive. The former President is charged with three (3) counts of murder as alleged crimes against humanity by the prosecutor.
“We hope that when you conclude your deliberations, that you dismiss these grievously misplaced and politically motivated charges,” Kaufman said.
Furthermore, based on the report, Nicholas Kaufman also said that they will ask the ICC to return the former President home to his family. According to former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer, they will ask the foreign court to return the “Tatay Digong” of the Filipino people.
“We will ask you to send Rodrigo Duterte back to his family and we will ask you to give back to the Filipino people their Tatay Digong,” the British-Israeli Lawyer said.
Recently, Kaufman claimed that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte allegedly collapsed twice while he is in ICC detention in The Hague, Netherlands. He described the former President as “considerably weaker, frailer, and grayer”.