Kaufman criticizes victims' counsel, media in closing remarks
Sa kanyang pagtatapos na pahayag sa ICC, pinuntirya ni Nicholas Kaufman, abugado ni dating Pangulong Duterte, ang mga legal na kinatawan ng mga biktima at media, inakusahan sila ng paggawa ng walang basehang alegasyon.
During the confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on February 27, 2026, Nicholas Kaufman, lead defense attorney for former President Rodrigo Duterte, delivered closing remarks that sharply criticized both the victims' legal representatives and mainstream media. Kaufman specifically targeted Filipino lawyer Gilbert Andres, who represents the victims, accusing him of presenting unsubstantiated claims about systematic killings of children during Duterte's anti-drug campaign. Kaufman argued that the prosecution had failed to provide evidence for minor victims aside from one 17-year-old case.
Kaufman's criticism extended to mainstream media outlets, accusing them of perpetuating a narrative that "Rodrigo Duterte is finally incarcerated where he belongs." He contended that media coverage had already judged and condemned his client before trial, questioning the practical value of defending the presumption of innocence when "the entire world has already judged and condemned him." This marked the fourth and final day of the confirmation of charges hearing, which began on February 23, 2026.
The hearing addressed charges of crimes against humanity (murder and attempted murder) linked to Duterte's anti-drug campaign from 2011-2019. Earlier in the proceedings, Kaufman had expressed sympathy for drug war victims he saw weeping but maintained he had a job to defend his client against allegations of a "common plan" for extrajudicial killings. He argued these killings were "minimal" and "random" rather than systematic or targeting the entire Filipino population.
Kaufman also recounted a recent prison visit where Duterte, aged 80, accepted his potential fate, stating "I could die in prison." The former president questioned the prosecution's claims, saying "How does the prosecution claim that I did this? I have never killed anyone." The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I now has up to 60 days to decide whether sufficient grounds exist to advance Duterte's case to a full trial on three counts of crimes against humanity related to the anti-drug campaign that resulted in at least 6,000 deaths according to government figures and over 30,000 according to human rights organizations.
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