The legal defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte in facing his crimes against humanity of murder charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) might not include his former executive secretary and spokesman.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands following his March 11 arrest on a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity. (Photos from AP, Veronica Duterte)
Vice President Sara Duterte revealed on Wednesday, March 19 (Manila time), that former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea will not be part of the team as the camp prefers lawyers with ICC experience.
And while former Palace spokesman Harry Roque is an accredited ICC counsel, he has yet to fix the status of his stay in the Netherlands.
Aside from British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, who will stand as the lead counsel, the younger Duterte said that she will be interviewing some more lawyers to join the team.
“And then once maayos na ‘yung team for ICC, magwi-withdraw si Atty. Medialdea. Kasi meron lang mga limited na (Once the team for ICC is completed, Atty. Medialdea will withdraw. Because there are limited) slots for lawyers and we want all the lawyers on board na mayroong (to have) ICC experience,” the Vice President said.
She added that Roque is “so far” not part of the legal team because he has yet to establish the basis of his stay in the Netherlands.
“And we don’t want complications. Gusto namin nakatutok talaga ‘yung lawyers doon sa kaso (We want the lawyers to focus on the case),” the younger Duterte said.
“And right now, I heard he’s applying for asylum. He publicly announced already so we want him to focus on his asylum and then we want our lawyers to focus on the case,” she added.
Roque left the Philippines last year amid a congressional inquiry into his alleged ties to illegal offshore online gambling. He is the subject of a congressional warrant.
The former human rights lawyer and international law professor, however, resurfaced in The Hague after the former president’s arrest.
All foreign lawyers
Asked if the former chief executive will have a legal team composed of all foreign lawyers, the Vice President answered in the affirmative.
However, she deferred to Kaufman on details about the defense strategy, as well as how many lawyers will join him in the team.
“Kung ilan (As for how many), you may have to ask Atty. Kaufman,” she told reporters.
She also did not reply to questions of whether her father chose a legal aid from the ICC list of counsels or the Dutertes will pay for their own legal representatives.
No regrets
The Vice President was able to see her father on Tuesday afternoon (Netherlands time) in the detention facility of the ICC, where he is currently staying for the charge of crimes against humanity in relation to the alleged killings of thousands of Filipinos during his administration’s war on drugs campaign.
Asked if the former president already realized that he will be tried for his administration’s flagship program to combat illegal drugs, his daughter said he is ready to face the charges.
“Alam naman niya, oo. Sinabi naman nya haharapin ko ito (He knows, yes. He said he will face it). I do not regret anything that I did sa aking paglilingkod sa bayan (in my service to the country),” she shared.