MANILA – The Palace on Friday called on the lawyer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to focus on legal matters surrounding his case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) instead of weighing in on Philippine political affairs.
According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman should prioritize courtroom preparation and legal arguments for Duterte’s case rather than commenting on the country’s political landscape.
She remarked that Kaufman’s recent statements suggest he may be losing focus, adding that his role is to defend his client—not to engage in issues involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or the political interests of Duterte’s relatives.
Castro issued the response after Kaufman accused the Philippine government of assisting the prosecution in the ICC case. He argued that the Marcos administration has long been aligned with the prosecution and is not expected to support Duterte’s defense.
On Thursday, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed all charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte, paving the way for a full trial. The court said there are reasonable grounds to believe he is accountable for murder and attempted murder linked to his anti-drug operations.
The chamber added that the alleged crimes occurred between November 2011 and March 2016, characterizing them as part of a broad and systematic campaign targeting civilians during the war on drugs.
