THE HAGUE, Netherlands – British‑Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has formally moved to withdraw as lead defense counsel for former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC), signaling a major shift in the legal team handling the crimes against humanity case linked to his administration’s war on drugs. In an exclusive interview with GMA News on Saturday, Kaufman confirmed that the transition is already underway, noting that Duterte was scheduled to meet his newly chosen legal representative the same day. “The former president will meet the counsel who has been selected for him today to make his acquaintance,” Kaufman said.
He explained that his engagement was always intended to be temporary and limited strictly to the pretrial phase of the proceedings. “I was hired on a specific contract for the pretrial phase for the period of one year or the conclusion of the confirmation hearing, whichever the sooner,” he disclosed, adding that his term officially ended on March 31, 2026.
According to Kaufman, the responsibility for funding and managing ongoing legal matters — including the selection and appointment of new counsel — has now been transferred to Honeylet Avanceña and her daughter Veronica.
Kaufman expressed confidence that the handover will proceed smoothly and quickly. He said that once Duterte formally signifies his approval of the new lawyer before ICC Registry staff on Monday, he expects the Trial Chamber to issue a decision granting his withdrawal as early as the same day or the next.
He spoke highly of the incoming counsel, describing the lawyer as seasoned in ICC procedures and well‑versed in handling high‑profile cases. “The new counsel has a wealth of experience at the ICC and, like me, has represented high‑profile clients,” Kaufman stated, assuring that he will remain available to assist during the transition period “to ensure efficiency and continuity.”
ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet confirmed that the court is currently reviewing Kaufman’s request to step down. “The judges will make their decision in due course,” she said, while emphasizing that Duterte retains his fundamental right to legal representation under international law. “Mr. Duterte is entitled to be defended by a defense counsel at trial that is eligible to be on the list of counsels of the ICC,” Maillet noted, adding that under court rules, defendants are free to choose their lawyers from the official roster of practitioners authorized to appear before the tribunal. This development comes just weeks after ICC judges formally confirmed the charges against Duterte, clearing the path for the case to move into full trial proceedings.
