DUTERTE LOSES LEAD DEFENSE LAWYER AHEAD OF ICC PROCEEDINGS

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is set to lose the face of his ICC defense team after lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman formally requested to withdraw from the crimes against humanity case weeks before a key court proceeding.

In a filing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, the British-Israeli lawyer revealed that his departure comes at the request of the former president himself.

The departure follows a meeting between Kaufman and Duterte on May 7, where the former president expressed his intent to bring in new legal representation. Kaufman also noted that his formal one-year consultancy contract with Duterte had already lapsed on March 31.

Following this development, the ICC Trial Chamber III also granted the withdrawal of associate counsel Dov Jacobs, effectively clearing the way for a new legal team to take over.

Duterte has been in custody in The Hague since March 2025, facing charges of crimes against humanity. The prosecution alleges that his administration’s "war on drugs" led to thousands of extrajudicial killings, both during his presidency and his earlier tenure as the mayor of Davao City.

Throughout his time as lead counsel, Kaufman remained a vocal defender of the former president’s innocence. He argued that there was no "smoking gun" linking Duterte to direct orders for illegal killings, maintaining that police were only authorized to use lethal force in self-defense. Kaufman also frequently challenged the ICC’s jurisdiction, though these appeals were ultimately rejected by the court.

The sudden change in leadership has sparked concern among the families of those killed in the drug war. Kristina Conti, an ICC assistant to counsel for victims, noted that while the right to choose counsel is fundamental, the timing is sensitive.

The court is moving forward despite the reshuffle. A status conference is currently scheduled for May 27, 2026, where the trial phase's timeline will be further established. It remains to be seen who will step in to fill the vacancy left by Kaufman as the former president prepares to face his accusers in open court.