Statement of Duterte’s ICC Lawyer on Claim of Honeylet Avanceña
Duterte’s ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman refuted the claim of Honeylet Avanceña over her visiting rights to the former President inside the International Criminal Court detention center.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is facing an allegation of crimes against humanity before the ICC over the war on drugs of his administration. He was arrested by the Philippine authorities who assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) last March 11 and was immediately flown to The Hague, Netherlands for the transfer of his custody.
The camp of former Pres. Duterte applied for his interim release but has also asked the ICC to delay the decisioning as they await some documents that will support their bid. The former President’s family members took turns in visiting him inside the ICC detention center.
According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte wants to campaign for her if she runs in the 2028 Elections, thus, he hopes that he is no longer under the ICC custody by then. His legal team is composed of all foreign lawyers led by British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.
Duterte’s ICC lawyer admitted working for former First Lady Imelda Marcos before. Meanwhile, he stressed that it was 13 years ago and the former President is aware of it. Pres. Bongbong Marcos was heavily-criticized for allowing the arrest and the transfer of the custody of his predecessor.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also believes that Marcos Jr.’s administration and the ICC allegedly colluded in the arrest of her father. According to the Vice President, the ICC allegedly wants to pursue a case against the former President while the Marcos admin wants him away from the country.
Recently, Duterte’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, arrived in The Hague, Netherlands as it is already her turn again to visit the former President. However, she claimed that she’s deprived from visiting the former President.
Honeylet Avanceña claimed she’s barred from visiting former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and gave a message for Duterte’s ICC lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman. The common-law wife of the former President appealed that they will not be deprived from seeking the opinions of other lawyers.
Recently, Duterte’s ICC lawyer reacted to the claim of Honeylet Avanceña. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, lawyer Nicholas Kaufman refused to comment on the veracity of the claims of his client’s common-law wife.
“For judicial reasons and out of respect for family privacy, I am not able and, further, have no need nor reason to comment on the veracity of Honeylet Avanceña’s allegations concerning what she claims is her denial of access to the ICC detention centre,” Kaufman said.
Based on the report, Nicholas Kaufman also stressed that the counsels do not set the visiting rights inside the ICC detention facility. He stressed that it depends on the authorities inside the ICC detention center.
The confirmation of charges is set on September 23. According to the ICC defense team of former Pres. Duterte, they will not present witnesses at the September 23 hearing.