Lawyers representing victims of the war on drugs are hoping that the scheduled presentation on May 27 in the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) will proceed as planned.
This comes after Atty. Nicholas Kaufman requested to withdraw as Duterte’s lead counsel.
Kaufman also said that another lawyer is already willing to take over Duterte’s defense before the ICC.
In an interview with Brigada News FM Manila, counsel for the EJK victims Atty. Neri Colmenares said that if there is indeed someone ready to replace Kaufman, it would be better for the proceedings to continue without delay.
Meanwhile, ICC Assistant to Counsel Atty. Kristina Conti stressed that the case against former President Duterte should not be delayed amid the planned change in his legal counsel.
According to Conti, while the accused has the right to choose his own lawyer, this does not mean the case timeline should be reset or that new legal remedies should automatically be granted.
She added that the victims want to ensure that the legal process continues smoothly and that the trial is not postponed.
The victims are also expected to relay their positions through their legal representatives during the upcoming hearing, where they hope the trial proper can begin as soon as possible.
