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Castro tells Kaufman: Come as tourist, not for interim release talks

Philippines | National

Castro tells Kaufman: Come as tourist, not for interim release talks

By Argyll Cyrus Geducos

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro and lawyer Nicholas Kaufman (File photos)

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro and lawyer Nicholas Kaufman (File photos)

Malacañang has brushed aside an invitation from former president Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer to discuss the latter’s interim release, saying any visit to the Philippines should be for tourism, not legal negotiations.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remark after British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman said he would be willing to go to Manila to discuss the interim release of his client should Castro invite him.

“First of all, I am not inviting him,” Castro said during a press briefing on Friday, Feb. 27.

“If ever, everybody is welcome to see the beauty of our country. Welcome lahat ng tourists, lahat ng turista, pati pamilya kasama iyan (All tourists are welcome, including their families),” she added.

Castro even joked that she would be willing to treat Kaufman to local delicacies should he visit.

“And if he will be coming to the Philippines, I am more than happy to treat him, buy him balut, bagoong, kwek-kwek, IUD, adidas,” she said.

But Castro made it clear that the Palace would not entertain discussions about Duterte’s interim release.

“But I will not discuss about the interim release, because it has already been dissolved by the ICC,” she said.

“So, pag-uusapan lang namin ang ganda ng Palawan, El Nido, Manila Zoo, lahat po iyan, iyon lang po (We will only talk about the beauty of Palawan, El Nido, the Manila Zoo—those things only),” she added.

Duterte, arrested in March 2025, is detained at the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague, the Netherlands, where he is facing charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Related Tags

Claire Castro Nicholas Kaufman ICC

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