The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte will restructure his defense team after two of his lawyers manifested their intention to withdraw amid preparations for his trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity. Lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman has requested permission from the ICC to withdraw, citing the expiration of his one-year engagement on March 31, 2026. Kaufman's request comes as the ICC granted the request of another Duterte lawyer, Dov Jacobs, to withdraw from the defense team. In a public urgent filing dated May 8 and submitted before Trial Chamber III of the ICC, Kaufman said his mandate to represent Duterte had ended and that the defense team had since moved to transition representation to a replacement counsel. Kaufman said the defense team visited Duterte on May 7, during which the former president agreed to release him from his representation and expressed his intention to appoint a new lawyer, whose identity was partially redacted in the filing. Jacobs had sought leave to withdraw on the same day under Regulation 78(1) of the ICC Regulations, citing the planned reorganization. In approving Jacob's request, the ICC Trial Chamber III, in a public decision,noted that the accused had expressed interest in restructuring his defense team ahead of the trial phase. The chamber is composed of Presiding Judge Joanna Korner and Judges Keebong Paek and Nicolas Guillou. Meanwhile, Kaufman said he had spoken with the incoming lawyer, who confirmed readiness to assume immediate representation under agreed terms and assured the defense that he would be prepared to attend the next status conference scheduled for May 27, 2026. The filing stated that pending procedural deadlines had been communicated to the incoming counsel. Kaufman said he was satisfied that continuity in Duterte’s legal representation would be maintained through the new counsel and the existing defense team, describing the transition as orderly and coordinated. He added that, should the court grant his request to withdraw, he would comply with all confidentiality and record-keeping obligations under the ICC Code of Professional Conduct. Jacobs assured the chamber that his withdrawal would not disrupt the continuity of legal representation. The chamber also reminded Jacobs of his continuing obligations under the ICC Code of Professional Conduct for Counsel, as well as confidentiality duties under the Rome Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and noted his assurances in that regard.
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