A provisional core team of lawyers, led by Nicholas Kaufman, is set to start working on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense against crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC) next week
The charges stem from the killings that occurred during Duterte’s administration’s war on drugs.
According to Kaufman, a Filipino lawyer is part of the team, but the names of the team members will remain undisclosed. The core team will consist of a maximum of five members, with additional personnel appointed on an as-needed basis.
Kaufman, who visited Duterte at The Hague Penitentiary, declined to reveal the names of the team members, citing a discussion with the Vice President, where they agreed that Kaufman would be the sole spokesperson. Kaufman also confirmed that the team would raise the issue of Duterte’s arrest in the Philippines as part of their defense strategy.
