Sara Duterte: Dad's ICC defense team will have 5 members, no Filipino lawyer yet

Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, will have a five-member core defense team for his International Criminal Court (ICC) trial but there is no Filipino lawyer being considered yet.

Nicholas Kaufman, the lead counsel, is currently interviewing candidates for the role, and while no decision has been made yet, the chosen lawyer is likely not accredited with the ICC.

Sara Duterte emphasized that she cannot be part of her father's defense team due to her duties as Vice President and her impending impeachment trial. She added that all lawyers appointed by the court need to be vetted and cleared before she can return to the Philippines.

Pre-trial judges at the ICC have initiated a disclosure process requiring the prosecutor to provide evidence and information about witnesses before the confirmation of charges hearing on September 23.

The ICC Registry was also directed to file observations regarding victims' applications for participation in the proceedings, ensuring that their interests are protected throughout the trial.