Palace spox warns Duterte’s lawyer of EJK challenges

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro commented on lawyer Nicholas Kaufman's defense of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC), noting potential challenges due to Duterte’s admission of killings.

Castro expressed hope that Kaufman is aware of the difficulties he may face given Duterte's admissions, while also wishing him luck as the presumption of innocence remains.

During a Palace briefing on Tuesday, April 8, Castro emphasized that Kaufman should be mindful of political manipulation and the plight of families affected by extrajudicial killings (EJK) under Duterte’s presidency.

The ICC has released the name of another lawyer who will join Duterte's defense team: Atty. Dov Jacobs was appointed as associate counsel on April 7, according to an ICC document signed by Marc Dubuisson, director of the Division of Judicial Services, on behalf of ICC registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler.

Duterte was arrested on March 11 and surrendered to the ICC with his plane arriving in The Hague the next day where he is detained for charges related to crimes against humanity during his administration's war on drugs.