Palace Press Office Claire Castro and ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman 

MANILA, Philippines – The Malacañang Palace brought the question back to lawyer Nicholas Kaufman who said the biggest hurdle in the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte is “political manipulation” in the Philippines. 

“Siguro mas maganda rin po talaga, kasi sinabi niya po political manipulation of arguments and it is also better for him to know who manipulates who,” Palace Press Office Claire Castro said in a press briefing Tuesday. 

The Palace said it is only answering Kaufman because he issued a statement despite the former president pleading to supporters to avoid discussing the case publicly. 

“Every lawyer desires and aspires to win all his cases for his clients so expected naman po natin na ito ang magiging depensa po ni Atty. Kaufman,” she said. 

Being the lead defense of the former president, Castro said Kaufman should not only be aware of the merits of his client’s case but also, the plight of the victims of the extrajudicial killings who are allegedly being harassed by the supporters of the former leader according to an International Criminal Court-accredited lawyer. 

“And also sabi nga po natin he should also be aware of the plight of the EJK families of the EJK victims who are now allegedly being harrassed by some of the Duterte supporters according to Atty. [Maria Kristina] Conti,” she said. 

“Sana malaman po niya ‘yan at the same time we understand his opinion on this especially that he is representing the suspect, the former president Duterte who admitted his acts of killings,” she said. 

Castro noted that Kaufman will surely have a difficult time defending his client who, in countless times, has admitted to killings. 

She also wished luck to Kaufman because any suspect, Castro said, is always presumed guilty unless proven otherwise. 

Duterte maintains no guilt 

Kaufman explained that the ICC ensures equal opportunities for all parties involved including the participation of victims  who accuse the former president of being responsible for the murder of their family members. 

“Even though the Defense vigorously disputes responsibility, the process at the ICC requires that the relatives of these people have the opportunity to express their views without fear,” he said in an interview. 

As the former president called for a respect of the judicial process, Kaufman also reminded his critics that the ex-leader is also entitled to certain rights. Most important of all is the right to interim release, the right to return to his homeland and the presumption of innocence. 

“At this point in time, the former President is simply a proud Filipino not guilty of anything,” Kaufman said.

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