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American author mistaken as Duterte's lead counsel at ICC

Philippines | National

American author mistaken as Duterte's lead counsel at ICC

By Joseph Pedrajas

â€‹Pro-Duterte supporters seem to have mistaken American author Nicholas Kaufmann to be the former president's lead counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Nicholas Kaufman.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, April 2, the author said he is being "absolutely flooded" by messages from followers and commenters from the Philippines, who continue to believe that he is former president Rodrigo Duterte's counsel at the ICC.

American author Nicholas Kaufmann (Photo credit of Alberto Vasari)

"Our names aren't even spelled the same (he's Kaufman with one N). It's insane!," Kaufmann said.

Nicholas Kaufmanâ€”with a single 'n' in his surnameâ€”is Duterte's legal counsel in his crime against humanity charges at the ICC.

In a post two weeks ago, Kaufmann already clarified that he is not who pro-Duterte supports believed him to be.

"People of the Philippines, I am *not* the ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman who is representing President Duterte! Please stop messaging me!," he said.

Meanwhile, for Kabataan Party-list first nominee Renee Co, the Kaufman/Kaufmann mix-up "shows that even out of state power, the Duterte disinformation network still gears supporters to uncritically attack or support people or groups to ensure the interests of their dynasty."

So she asked: "What more when he was the sitting President ordering to kill drug addicts?"

Related Tags

International Criminal Court Nicholas Kaufman Rodrigo Duterte

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