March 20, 2025
MANILA – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed the appointment of British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman as former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsel.
Based on a court filing before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I dated March 18 (Central European Standard Time), the ICC Registry informed the court that Duterte appointed Kaufman as his lead legal counsel.
“The Registry hereby informs Pre-Trial Chamber I that on 14 March 2025, Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte requested in writing to be represented by Mr Nicholas Kaufman in the proceedings before the International Criminal Court,” the ICC said.
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“The appointment has been confirmed by the Registry on 17 March 2025, following Mr Kaufman’s acceptance of the appointment,” it added.
According to the ICC, the Registry received Duterte’s signed letter nominating Kaufman as his lead defense counsel on March 14.
The Registry then met with Duterte on March 17, when he signed and confirmed Kaufman’s appointment.
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“On the same day, Mr Kaufman accepted the mandate, as required by article 11 of the Code of Conduct for Counsel as well as the solemn Undertaking required by Article 5 of the Code,” the official document read.