Statement of Malacañang on ICC Case of Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte
MALACAÑANG – The Palace believes that the lawyer of former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte might have a hard time in defending the admissions he made.
The legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his trial before the ICC or the International Criminal Court has been finalized. The team is led by British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has even returned to the Philippines from the Netherlands since her father’s legal team has already been finalized. It was her pursuit before she returns to the country. According to Kaufman, no Filipino lawyer will be admitted as a counsel of former Pres. Duterte in the ICC but there are Pinoy lawyers who are helping them.
Duterte’s legal counsel is confident about their jurisdictional argument. According to Kaufman, if he will be able to convince the judges that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the country, there might be no need to push through with the confirmation of charges against Duterte which is set on September 23.
Recently, Malacañang spoke on former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman. Based on a report on Inquirer, Palace Press officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro stressed that it is normal for a lawyer to want to win the case of his client. Kaufman previously claimed that one of the biggest challenges he sees is the alleged possible political manipulation of the arguments.
According to the press officer of Malacañang, Duterte’s lawyer will really face challenges citing the former President had “admissions”. Meanwhile, Castro stressed the presumption on the suspect while the case is ongoing.
“He will definitely face some difficulties… regarding the admissions made by his client. But we wish him all the luck because, still, we have to presume that the suspect is still innocent until proven guilty,” the Malacañang Press Officer said.
Based on the report, the Palace also advised Duterte’s lawyer to find out who is really being manipulated in the situation. Castro stressed that “it is also better for him to know who manipulates who”.
Aside from Nicholas Kaufman, the ICC registry recently revealed another member of Duterte’s legal team, French lawyer Dov Jacobs.