Former President Rodrigo Duterte has officially appointed British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman as his defense counsel in the International Criminal Court (ICC), former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed on Monday.
Legal Representation at the ICC
Medialdea shared the news after visiting Duterte at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, where he is detained pending trial for crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s war on drugs.
“Okay naman siya, he’s in very high spirits… Medyo nakahabol na ng tulog,” Medialdea said, describing Duterte’s condition.
He added that meeting the former president required strict security protocols and that their conversation lasted an hour.
Sara Duterte Not Part of Defense Team
Meanwhile, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that Vice President Sara Duterte will not be involved in her father’s legal defense, citing constitutional restrictions on practicing a profession while in office.
Duterte faces serious charges at the ICC, while the court has also tagged nine individuals as co-perpetrators in the controversial drug war killings.