The Hague, Netherlands – Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team before the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not include former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Vice President Sara Duterte announced.
In a brief media interview following a visit to her father on Tuesday, Sara explained that Roque’s asylum application in the Netherlands creates a conflict of interest. The Vice President emphasized the need for the legal team to focus solely on the ICC case.
Sara further clarified that former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea will withdraw from the team once it’s finalized due to limited slots and a preference for lawyers with ICC experience.
Medialdea was hospitalized earlier on Tuesday after being seen leaving the Hague Penitentiary Institution in an ambulance. The Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands confirmed he’s now in a regular hospital room.
Leading the defense will be British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, who expressed confidence in providing a strong defense for the former president.
The team is still being assembled, with Sara indicating further recruitment of ICC-experienced lawyers is underway.
She also revealed that her father has repeatedly urged her to return to the Philippines, stating her current presence is solely to assist in forming the legal team.
metrosundaily
