MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ng common-law partner ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na si Honeylet Avanceña, na sinuspinde ang kanyang visitation rights sa nakakulong na dating Pangulo sa International Criminal Court detention facility.
“‘Nung time na yun, five minutes bago matapos, sinabihan na lang ako na isusupend daw ako. Ang sabi pa nga ni PRD doon sa lalaki na ‘you cannot do that’ kasi nga he’s expecting me. This is my time right now. This is my schedule to visit him. Tapos the following day, wala na akong visit,” ani Avanceña.
Ang suspensyon ay may kaugnayan umano sa tawag niya kay Duterte noong Hulyo 19 nang magkomento ito tungkol sa kaso.
Aniya, wala siyang nalalaman tungkol sa naturang isyu.
Sinisi naman ni Avancena si ICC-listed defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman.
“I have nothing against you, pero please do not deprive us of asking other people or asking legal opinions from other lawyers also. We acknowledge you as his lawyer,” sinabi pa ni Avanceña.
“You know, I know you are protecting your real practice. I don’t know if you’re trying to prove something [but] we are concerned about the life of this man.”
Nang tanungin sa legal basis ng suspensyon ng visitation rights ni Avanceña, tumanggi namang magkomento rito si Kaufman.
“For judicial reasons and out of respect for family privacy, I am not going to comment on the veracity of Honeylet Avanceña’s allegations concerning her presence not being desired at the ICC detention centre,” ani Kaufman.
“Honeylet Avanceña, so it would appear, is emotionally distressed for reasons on which, as I mentioned previously, I cannot elaborate. As a consequence, she is making all sorts of wild allegations which are being stoked by others,” dagdag pa niya.
“The simple fact of the matter is that the Vice President, as a lawyer herself, is fully qualified to judge the quality of my engagement with and work for the former president.”
Aniya, ang visiting rights ay wala sa desisyon ng counsel kundi ng detention center authorities.
“The former President’s health is being adequately managed and overseen by all those currently in daily contact with him,” sinabi ni Kaufman. RNT/JGC
