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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Not a privately funded case': Duterte camp may seek legal aid from ICC, says VP

'Not a privately funded case': Duterte camp may seek legal aid from ICC, says VP

Published Mar 20, 2025 08:45 am

The camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte may avail of legal aid from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to cover for the expenses of hiring lawyers to defend the ex-president from his crimes against humanity of murder charges, Vice President Sara Duterte said on Thursday, March 20.

PRRD_ICC4.jpegFormer president Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, in The Hague, Netherlands. (ICC, AFP photos)

In a virtual press conference, the official stressed that she already hinted to her father’s lead counsel, British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, that his case is not privately funded.

“Malaki ang posibilidad na mag-apply kami ng legal aid. Hindi ito privately funded cases (There is a huge possibility that we will apply for legal aid. This is not privately funded cases),” the Vice President, who is currently in The Hague to assist her father in forming a legal defense team, told reporters.

She shared that while she hasn’t spoken to Kaufman about his legal fees, she already hinted to him that they will apply for legal aid in the ICC.

“Hindi namin na-take up ang topic ng budget pero alam niya noong isang araw ay sinabihan ko na siya (We didn’t take up the topic of the budget but he already knows the other day, I mentioned to him [about the legal aid]),” Duterte said.

The ICC has a Legal Aid System (LAS) to ensure fair representation for accused persons who are assessed to be indigent.

So far, the Duterte camp has only named Kaufman as one of the ex-president’s lawyers, but the Vice President assured that she will be interviewing another lawyer who might possibly be part of her father’s defense team.

“So, kailangan ko siya kausapin, so kailangan ko siya iinterview para maidagdag siya sa legal team (So, I need to talk with him, I need to interview him so we can add him to the legal team),” she shared.

Duterte, however, refused to name the lawyers to protect their privacy and to keep them away from being bombarded with questions.

She earlier mentioned that executive secretary Salvador Medialdea will withdraw as Duterte’s counsel once the defense team is finalized.

The former Palace official was rushed to the hospital earlier this week because of an undisclosed medical condition.

Former Palace spokesman Harry Roque, who is the subject of a congressional warrant due to his alleged ties to illegal offshore gambling, will also not be a part of the former president’s legal team because of questions in his status in the Netherlands.

The Vice President, however, confirmed that he would be applying for asylum in the Netherlands.

Support group

Meanwhile, Duterte said she isn’t sure until when she will be staying in the Netherlands because they have yet to finalize the list of lawyers for her father’s legal team.

“As vice president, meron akong obligasyon na buuin ang kanyang support group dito para merong tumutulong makalabas sa kanya diyan sa ICC detention (As vice president, I have an obligation to form the support group that will help release him from the ICC detention),” she said.

She arrived in The Hague shortly after the ex-president’s arrival there on March 12 after he was arrested in Manila on March 11 and subsequently sent to The Hague to face his charges.

Related Tags

VP Sara Duterte International Criminal Court legal aid crimes against humanity Rodrigo Duterte
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