THE HAGUE — The core legal defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte has been fully assembled ahead of his scheduled pre-trial hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman.
“The core team is now fully completed,” said Kaufman, a British-Israeli lawyer, during a press briefing.
He also confirmed that they intend to file a motion for Duterte’s interim release, stressing that this is a right afforded to every suspect.
“In due course, we will be making a request for interim release,” Kaufman said, noting that specific guarantees and conditions must first be met for it to proceed.
Asked about his long-term commitment to the case, Kaufman was unequivocal: “I will fight for Mr. Duterte until the end.” He acknowledged that clients sometimes change lawyers but affirmed he has no intention of stepping down.
The ICC has scheduled the next hearing for the confirmation of charges, centered on alleged crimes against humanity committed during Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, for September 23, 2025.
Vice President Sara Duterte, who is currently in The Hague, expressed hope that the defense team would be complete before she departs.
She also revealed that certain steps are being explored to expedite the dismissal of her father’s case.
Kaufman removed from the Central Africa case due to conflict
Kaufman’s prior involvement in another ICC case was terminated in March 2022 due to a conflict of interest. The Chamber found that the proceedings in The Prosecutor v. Yekatom and Ngaïssona overlapped with the case of Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka, whom Kaufman was then representing.
As a result, the court ordered his removal from Mokom’s legal team.
Despite this, Kaufman remains active and closely involved in Duterte’s case. He described the former president as being “in good spirits” during his most recent visit, saying: “I’ll continue to visit him every day that I’m in The Hague. It’s my policy.”
He also expressed gratitude for the support Duterte continues to receive, particularly on his 80th birthday. “There was a huge influx of flowers… Tons and tons of flowers were brought to both the prison and the court. I didn’t know what to do with them,” he said.
Roque surfaces in The Hague, seeks asylum
Meanwhile, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who had been out of the public eye for several months, reappeared in The Hague on March 14 and filed for asylum in the Netherlands.
Roque left the Philippines following his alleged involvement in the operations of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firm raided in Porac, Pampanga.
In September 2024, the House Quad Committee cited him in contempt and ordered his detention for refusing to submit financial documents linked to a significant increase in his personal wealth.
Although he currently faces no formal charges in Philippine courts, Roque is the subject of a complaint related to alleged trafficking operations at Lucky South 99.
He is also under an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) along with several others connected to the case.
The developments come as Duterte’s legal team prepares for what could be a landmark hearing before the ICC, drawing global attention to the ongoing debate over accountability and justice stemming from the former president’s anti-drug campaign.