Nicholas Kaufman, Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC Lawyer, Speaks on Former First Lady Imelda Marcos
RODRIGO DUTERTE’S ICC LAWYER – British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman confirmed his past ties with former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
The arrest and the transfer of the custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) caused political turmoil in the government. It also divided the once-solid BBM-Sara supporters as Pres. Bongbong Marcos was heavily-blamed over the March 11 turn of events.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is “skin and bones” now inside the ICC detention facility according to his family members. His ex-wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, claimed that the former President lost his appetite on food and spends most of his time sleeping and watching the television.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the public may have yet to see her father as thin as he is now. Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, and his legal team sought for the interim release bid of the former Chief Executive. However, recently, his defense team also asked the court to hold off in deciding over their plea citing that they still await some documents that will support the bid.
Several senator allies of the Duterte family also called for his house arrest citing his old age, prolonged social isolation, and his medical condition. Amid the criticisms, Pres. Bongbong Marcos claimed that the government only acted on the arrest in lieu of its commitment with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
Recently, based on a report on PhilStar, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman confirmed his past ties with former First Lady Imelda Marcos. According to the British-Israeli lawyer, he has served as the legal counsel of the former First Lady 13 years ago.
Kaufman claimed that he and the former First Lady met over a Chinese meal in Manila. Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC lawyer also claimed that the former Chief Executive is aware of his past ties with former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
“The former president is fully aware of my former clients and also knows that my meeting with Imelda Marcos took place more than 13 years ago over a Chinese meal in Manila. This was before the Duterte family was recognized as a political force to be reckoned with in the Philippines,” Kaufman said.
The case was not mentioned. Based on the report, aside from the mother of Pres. Bongbong Marcos, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC lawyer has also served as the legal counsel of the Gaddafi children and Democratic Republic of Congo leader Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Recently, Duterte’s lawyer in his ICC case spoke about Harry Roque, the former spokesman of his client who asserted to be part of his ICC legal team.