Roque not part of Duterte's ICC defense team

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque will not be part of the defense team for former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Lead legal counsel Nicholas Kaufman confirmed the core defense team is finalized and that Roque's seeking of political asylum in The Netherlands is incompatible with employment at the court.

Vice President Sara Duterte had previously indicated Roque would not be part of the legal team, citing his asylum petition.

Roque's desire to join the defense team came after an arrest warrant for contempt from the House of Representatives led to his departure from the Philippines last September.

He appeared in The Hague on March 14, his first appearance outside the Philippines since leaving the country amid investigations into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Duterte is detained at the Scheveningen penitentiary facing allegations of crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs.

Roque maintains that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over Duterte, citing the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute in March 2019.