Veteran British-Israeli international lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has been appointed as the lead counsel for former President Rodrigo Duterte’s case at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Vice President Sara Duterte previously announced Kaufman’s participation in her father’s defense team, alongside Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
Kaufman, a former prosecutor of the ICC Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, graduated from the University of Cambridge with a law degree in 1989.
He has served as defense lawyer for suspects and accused individuals facing crimes against humanity charges.
Notably, Kaufman has provided legal counsel to former Central African Republic militia leader Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka and Aisha Gadaffi, daughter of Libya’s former leader Muammar.
According to Roque, Duterte’s legal team is set to meet in The Hague, Netherlands, to discuss their strategies ahead of the September 23 hearings on the confirmation of charges.
The team plans to file a petition to dismiss the crimes against humanity case against their client ¹.
(ICC photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.