Nicholas Kaufman, Duterte’s Lawyer, Confident FPRRD Will Be In “Safe Hands”
Duterte’s lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has decided to withdraw from being part of the International Criminal Court (ICC) legal team of the former President.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is detained under the custody of the ICC for more than a year now. The former Chief Executive is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged crimes against humanity.
Previously, the ICC confirmed the charges against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and he is set to stand trial. Amid his detention, the 81-year-old former President remains firm of his defense that he allegedly did not do anything wrong.
Several Filipino lawyers including former chief presidential counsel Salvador Panelo previously flew to The Hague, Netherlands and witnessed the ICC confirmation of charges hearing against Duterte. According to Panelo, the Philippine government can allegedly take the former President’s custody back if it wants to.
Duterte’s former Chief Legal Counsel further reasoned that the Philippine government was even able to bring former Negros Oriental Arnolfo Teves back to the country. In his ICC bout, Duterte’s lawyer Nicholas Kaufman led the former President’s ICC legal team.
Kaufman is a British-Israeli lawyer who is known as an expert in jurisdiction. For several times, Duterte’s lawyer questioned the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over the Philippines which is currently no longer a member of the Rome Statute.
Amid the questions and the doubts of many people, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte stressed then that former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte does not want to change Nicholas Kaufman as his legal counsel. Duterte’s lawyer has commented against Pres. Bongbong Marcos and the administration several times amid the ongoing detention of the former President.
Recently, Nicholas Kaufman confirmed that he has decided to withdraw from being part of the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. Based on News5, Duterte’s lawyer expressed that it is a privilege for him to represent the former Chief Executive.
“It has been a privilege for me to represent the former President,” he said.
Furthermore, Duterte’s lawyer is confident that the former President will be in “safe hands” if his withdrawal will be approved. Based on the post, he also thanked everyone who appreciated his efforts.
“I thank both him and the many thousands of supporters who have shown their appreciation for my efforts on his behalf,” the former President said.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is not aware about the impeachment moves against her. The Duterte family reportedly considers the possibility that the former President might die during his ICC detention.
