By Lane Afable, News Editor
Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman should focus on defending his client, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and not on Philippine politics, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Friday.
Castro made the remarks in response to the statement of Kaufman, the lead defense counsel of Duterte in the International Criminal Court (ICC), who claimed the Philippine government headed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is not going to help the defense in any way.
“He (Kaufman) should focus on his defense and legal strategies, not on President Marcos Jr.,” said Castro. “He is losing track of his case because he keeps monitoring Philippine politics. He should do his best for his client, not for the political careers of his client’s children.”
In an interview with international media, Kaufman accused the administration of helping the prosecution right from before the time that the former president was brought to the ICC.
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed on Thursday, April 23, that Duterte will face trial on three counts of crimes against humanity (murder).
The Duterte camp said it was “not surprised” by the decision, describing it as based on uncorroborated statements of vicious self-confessed murderers acting as cooperating witnesses.
It argued that the ICC has no authority to proceed because the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, characterizing the ICC proceedings as a “kidnapping”.
