Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, lead counsel for former President Rodrigo Duterte, expressed optimism that the request for interim release of the former president will be decided within this month.
“I hope that within the month it will be decided,” Kaufman said in an interview with Alvin and Tourism in The Hague, Netherlands.
The former president’s legal team filed a petition with the International Criminal Court (ICC) on June 12, requesting interim release to a third country.
Kaufman also affirmed his earlier pronouncement on the prosecutor’s non-opposition to the interim release.
Last month, the ICC prosecutor formally opposed the application for interim release of Duterte, using the public statements and remarks by him and his family as a basis, among others.
“I stand by my pronouncement on the non-opposition to the interim release,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman also won’t comment on Belgium or Latin America as possible places for Duterte’s interim release.
“I’m not going to comment on any country, I’m not allowed to as this is confidential,” he said.
Lawyer Kristina Conti, Assistant Counsel to the ICC, noted that Belgium, a nation touted as a potential host country, had previously rejected a request to host another ICC detainee.
Conti, a human rights lawyer representing drug war victims, added that the prosecution at the ICC is opposing the petition for the interim release of Duterte, who is facing crimes against humanity charges in connection with his war on drugs.
Kaufman said it appeared that Conti has reviewed the court’s Interim Release Agreement and concluded that Belgium, due to its signature on the Interim Release Treaty, is the suggested location for Duterte’s interim release.
“I’m not gonna comment on that,” he said.
He also said the same goes for Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, who assumed that a Latin American country would welcome Duterte.
“Because once again Argentina has signed the Interim Release Agreement and I’m not going to comment on that,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman also sent his message to the Filipino people.
“Respect the judicial process. A lot of gossip and allegations have been made, especially by people like Atty. Kristina Conti,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kaufman shared that the former president is in good spirits when he visited him.
