THE HAGUE – Nakatakdang makipagkita si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa abogado na napili para mag-take over ng depensa matapos ang pag-alis ni British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman bilang legal counsel ng dating pangulo.
“The former president will meet the counsel who has been selected for him today to make his acquaintance,” sinabi ni Kaufman sa panayam ng GMA News nitong Sabado, Mayo 9.
Ipinaliwanag ni Kaufman na ang kanyang engagement ay limitado sa pretrial proceedings.
“I was hired on a specific contract for the pretrial phase for the period of one year or the conclusion of the confirmation hearing, whichever the sooner,” aniya.
Ang kontrata ay nagtapos noong Marso 31, 2026 ayon kay Kaufman.
“The funding and responsibility for ongoing legal matters, including the choice and recommendation of counsel, have now passed to Honeylet Avanceña and her daughter Veronica,” sinabi pa nito.
Ayon kay Kaufman, ang approval ni Duterte sa bagong abogado ay nagbigay daan sa ICC Trial Chamber na pormal na pagbigyan ito sa kanyang withdrawal sa susunod na linggo.
“Should the former president signify his approval of this appointment to Registry staff on Monday morning, then I anticipate that the judges of the Trial Chamber will render a decision approving my withdrawal on the same or following day.”
Nagpahayag naman ng kumpiyansa si Kaufman sa paparating na bagong counsel ni Duterte na may karanasan sa ICC litigation at sanay humawak ng high-profile clients.
“The new counsel has a wealth of experience at the ICC and, like me, has represented high-profile clients,” aniya, sabay-sabing patuloy siyang tutulong sa transition “to ensure efficiency and continuity.”
Ani ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet, sinusuri pa ng korte ang withdrawal request ni Kaufman.
“The judges will make their decision in due course,” sinabi ni Maillet.
“Mr. Duterte is entitled to be defended by a defense counsel at trial that is eligible to be on the list of counsels of the ICC,” dagdag pa niya. RNT/JGC
