Duterte to retain legal team in ICC case

Defense Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman (R) speaks with Xavier Jean Keita of the office of public council for defense on March 27, 2014 at the courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague during Charles Ble Goude's initial appearance. Michael Kooren, AFP/File

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte is retaining his legal team at the International Criminal Court, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said in light of talk of replacing his lawyers.

The younger Duterte said she relayed the question that there is "concern"of supposed dissatisfaction with the defense team after ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I found the former president fit to participate in a confirmation of charges hearing that will begin on February 23.

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is a ‘concern’ of dissatisfaction from both ‘detractors’ and ‘supporters’ on the former president’s legal team. 

“Sabi niya, hindi palitan. Pero meron siyang mga instructions na ibinigay sa legal team,” she said in a chance interview with supporters in The Hague, in the Netherlands on January 29. 

(He said not to replace them but he gave the legal team instructions)

Vice President Duterte did not give details of the instructions, saying they are not important.

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DUTERTE CASE TO TAKE ONE MORE YEAR?

The vice president also expressed gratitude to their supporters when asked by a supporter for her message to Filipino people who are ‘closely following the situation’ of the Duterte patriarch.

She said she is grateful for their support in the year since the former president was arrested and transported to The Hague.

In her view, the case of the former president will exceed one more year.

“[A]t sigurado ako lalampas pa ito ng isang taon pa, ang kaso ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte dito sa ICC,” she said.

(And I am sure that former President Rodrigo Duterte's case at the ICC will take longer than another year)

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Duterte was taken into custody on March 11, 2025, just after her arrived in the country from Hong Kong, following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. 

The warrant stemmed from the tribunal’s probe into his administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign, where authorities have acknowledged more than 7,000 were killed in operations.

Authorities have maintained that those killed had violently resisted arrest. A Department of Justice review of a handful of cases found irregularities and lapses in protocol.

Vice President Duterte also thanked supporters who gather on what they call  "Duterte Street", saying they help uplift her father's mood.