MANILA, Philippines — Itinalaga ng dating pangulo Rodrigo Duterte si international criminal at humanitarian law expert Peter Haynes bilang kanyang bagong lead counsel, kapalit ni Nicholas Kaufman, ayon sa dokumentong inilabas ng International Criminal Court nitong Martes, Mayo 12, 2026.
Sa isang court filing sa ICC Trial Chamber III, ipinabatid ni Kaufman na si Haynes ang hahalili bilang pangunahing abogado ni Duterte sa mga susunod na pagdinig. Inaasahang kakatawan si Haynes sa status conference na nakatakda sa Mayo 27, 2026.
“Counsel has spoken to Mr. Haynes who has indeed confirmed that he is ready willing and able to assume immediate representation and that his terms of engagement have been agreed,” ayon kay Kaufman.
“Counsel informed Mr. Haynes of pending deadlines and Mr. Haynes assured him that he will be able to attend the status conference set for 27 May 2026,” dagdag pa niya.
Batay sa profile nito sa St. Philips Barristers, humawak si Haynes ng mga kaso sa iba’t ibang international tribunals kabilang ang International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). Sa ICC, dati na rin niyang kinatawan si Jean-Pierre Bemba na na-acquit sa appeals stage, at noong 2024 ay itinalaga rin siya upang kumatawan kay Joseph Kony sa mga in absentia proceedings.
Nagsilbi rin si Haynes bilang pangulo ng International Criminal Court Bar Association mula 2019 hanggang 2021. Dave Baluyot
