📷Nicholas Kaufman | X
Detained former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team faces challenges defending him against International Criminal Court (ICC) charges, especially due to his admissions on the drug war, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
Castro made the remarks in a briefing on Tuesday, April 8, after lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, Duterte’s lead counsel, identified “political manipulation” as a primary concern in the case.
He suggested that Duterte’s substantial public support could be portrayed as a flight risk, complicating legal proceedings.
“We thought na the former President already requested that there should be no more statements to be made with regard to his case,” Castro said in the briefing in response to Kaufman’s remarks.
“Well, anyway, every lawyer desires and aspires to win all his cases for his clients. So, expected naman po natin na malamang ito ang magiging depensa po ni Atty. Kaufman. And siguro mas maganda rin po talaga, kasi sinabi niya po na political manipulation of arguments, so it is also better for him to know who manipulates who,” Castro added.
Duterte’s own statements have added complexity to his defense. In a 2018 speech, he acknowledged responsibility for extrajudicial killings, saying, “What is my sin? Did I steal even one peso? Did I prosecute somebody who I ordered jailed? My sin is extrajudicial killings.”
Moreover, during a Senate inquiry in October 2024, Duterte admitted to operating a “death squad” while serving as mayor of Davao City, revealing that the squad was composed of seven gangsters tasked with eliminating criminal suspects.
These admissions have led to increased scrutiny and legal challenges. Human rights groups estimate that over 30,000 people were killed during Duterte’s term, prompting the ICC to initiate an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity. (TCSP)
