MANILA, Philippines- Inihayag ng lead legal counsel ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte nitong Biyernes na naisapinal na ang core defense team ng kanyang kliyente para sa International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings, at hindi kasama rito si dating presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Sinabi ni Nicholas Kaufman, ang British-Israeli lawyer ni Duterte, na, “The core team is now fully completed… [The names] should be released in a public filing, yes, it should be today (Friday) or maybe Monday.”
Nang tanungin ukol sa posibilidad na maging bahagi si Roque ng defense team, tugon ni Kaufman: “Harry is seeking political asylum in The Netherlands and that would be wholly incompatible with employment at the Court.”
“We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” dagdag iniya.
Inaasahang maghahain ang defense team ng interim release para sa dating presidente, isang proseso na ayon kay Kaufman ay “a right which every suspect enjoys, including former President Duterte”.
“In due course, we will be making a request for interim release,” dagdag niya.
“I will fight for Mr. Duterte until the end,” giit ni Kaufman.
“Time to time, clients decide to change their lawyers. That happens in every case and there’s no difference between the International Criminal Court or any other court in the world. So, I’m here to stay. I will fight for Mr. Duterte until the end,” aniya pa.
Kasado ang susunod na hearing para sa kumpirmasyon ng mga kaso ni Duterte na crimes against humanity sa September 23. RNT/SA
