Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that Vice President Sara Duterte cannot serve as legal counsel for her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to Roque, the Philippine Constitution prohibits elected officials from practicing their profession while in office.
Roque explained that VP Duterte can only visit her father as a daughter, not as a lawyer. His statement comes after previous reports suggested that the Vice President might seek legal accreditation to gain access to Duterte during ICC proceedings.
As of now, British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman is the officially recognized lead counsel for the former president in the ICC case. Meanwhile, Roque and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea have yet to receive formal recognition as part of Duterte’s defense team.
This clarification puts to rest speculation about VP Duterte’s potential role in the legal battle, emphasizing the legal restrictions on elected officials engaging in private practice while in office.
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