Lawyer Kaufman visits Duterte at ICC, plans defense

British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman visited former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center on Wednesday and expressed confidence in forming a defense team.

Kaufman, who is Duterte's lead counsel appointed on March 17, told reporters that he expects to finalize the legal team by the end of the week.

Vice President Sara Duterte is assisting her father in selecting foreign lawyers for his case, while Salvador Medialdea will withdraw as Duterte's counsel and Harry Roque has been excluded from the defense team.

Kaufman opined that Duterte is being 'illegally detained' at the ICC and hinted plans to apply for interim release or temporary liberty for the former president during the pretrial phase.

The legal team aims to raise jurisdictional issues and the manner of arrest before the September 23 confirmation of charges hearing, while many supporters may contribute financially to ensure Duterte's return to the Philippines.