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Janvic Mateo - The Philippine Star
March 12, 2026 | 12:00am
Nicholas Kaufman, the defense counsel of former president Rodrigo Duterte, appears before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Feb. 26, 2026.
International Criminal Court / Philstar.com's screenshot
MANILA, Philippines — Despite repeated denials by judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the lead defense counsel of former president Rodrigo Duterte has maintained that his supposed medical condition warrants his release from detention.
In an interview released by SMNI yesterday, defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman said there seems to be “some kind of reticence” on the part of the tribunal to tackle the defense submissions with regard to Duterte’s condition.
Vice President Sara Duterte seconded Kaufman: “I talked to the lawyers of (former) president Rodrigo Duterte and we agreed that every time there is an opportunity to apply for the interim release of (former) president Rodrigo Duterte, we will do it even if it is always denied,” she said in an interview in Davao City.
She slammed what she termed as the “extraordinary rendition or kidnapping” of her father.
“It’s unthinkable that a government, no matter the political differences with the administration, would send a citizen to a foreign jurisdiction to be detained and tried for crimes against humanity. There is no basis, and there are no good witnesses. So, people are angry. They have been angry for a year and their anger will not cease until former president Duterte will return to the Philippines,” she added.
Scores of Duterte supporters from the “Tay, Kami Naman” social media campaign and Hakbang ng Maisug group trooped to the Supreme Court, urging the SC to decide on the legality of Duterte’s arrest and detention at the ICC. – Bella Cariaso, Ghio Ong, Alexis Romero
