The lead counsel of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte promises to provide “strong defense” as they plan the next steps in Duterte’s case.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Nicholas Kaufman said he is still in the process of completing the defense team for Duterte.
The Duterte camp earlier said that aside from Kaufman, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque would be part of the panel’s supporting lawyers.
Kaufman, however, refused to provide additional details on the matter, adding that the composition of the team has yet to be approved by Duterte.
“There was a need, first of all, for a senior counsel to be appointed, a counsel who has experience with matters of the ICC, and it’s that counsel’s job to compose the team. It’s early days yet, no one is entitled to draw any conclusion whatsoever from what has been and what hasn’t been done with respect to nominations at this point in time,” he said.
Kaufman also said there will be petitions filed, but more information will be revealed later once the team is finalized.
“There will be petitions obviously. Once again it’s not for me to comment on the defense strategy this moment in time,” he said.
Aside from providing a strong defense, Kaufman also said he hopes to bring Duterte back to the Philippines.
“I certainly hope so,” he said.
