Statement of Ex-Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s Lawyer on Malacañang Usec. Claire Castro
RODRIGO DUTERTE’S LAWYER – Atty. Nicholas Kaufman tells the press officer of Malacañang, undersecretary Claire Castro, not to interfere with his job.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is faced with an accusation of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to his administration’s war on drugs. It was last March 11 when the former Chief Executive was arrested by the Philippine authorities who assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer, believes that the ICC allegedly has no jurisdiction in the Philippines since the country withdrew its membership in 2019. However, the foreign court also asserted that there are allegations against Duterte when the country was still a member of the ICC.
Recently, Malacañang claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos is opened to the Philippines rejoining the ICC. Amid the detention of the former President, his camp sought for his ICC interim release to an undisclosed country but there are still no updates regarding the matter.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, on her father’s ICC interim release bid, stressed that the former President is already a “super senior” citizen. According to her, the 80-year-old former President got needs that cannot be met inside the ICC detention facility.
Amid the ongoing detention of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Malacañang press undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro stressed that Duterte’s lawyer “should concentrate on his defenses, he should concentrate on the allegations and admissions of the former President of his killings and that he ordered the killings of some people in relation to war on drugs”.
Recently, Duterte’s lawyer reacted to the remarks of Malacañang press undersecretary Claire Castro. Based on a report on GMA News, he stressed that she should not interfere with his job.
“Well, I’d kindly thank Claire Castro not to interfere with the job that I’m doing, just as much as I wouldn’t interfere with the job that she’s doing: peddling the misinformation of her own administration,” Duterte’s lawyer said.
Based on the report, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman further claimed that the Malacañang press officer allegedly “seems to have a rather unhealthy obsession” with him. The camp of the former President maintains their defense that the ICC allegedly lacks jurisdiction in the country. They call for Duterte’s immediate release.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte won mayor of Davao in the May 2025 Elections. However, due to his detention, he has yet to take an oath. His son, Davao vice mayor Baste Duterte, is currently the acting mayor of the city.