President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the driving force behind the International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings against former president Rodrigo Duterte, according to Duterte’s international legal counsel Nicholas Kaufman, who made the claim during a media interview in The Hague.
Kaufman, speaking from the Netherlands where Duterte remains in detention, accused Marcos of exploiting the ICC as a political tool. “The real prosecutor in this case is actually in Manila, sitting in his Palace,” Kaufman said on May 23. “He’s the person who threw President Duterte over here to The Hague.”
He argued that the move backfired, especially in light of Duterte’s landslide win in the recent local elections where he reclaimed the mayoralty of Davao City. Kaufman described the outcome as a strong message of protest against those advocating for Duterte’s prosecution. “As far as I’m concerned, that’s a finger in the eye to the people who threw him over here,” he said.
Despite his firm stance, Kaufman urged Duterte’s supporters to remain respectful of the ICC proceedings. He called for lawful support, adding, “Support him lawfully, and with all respect for due process, the judges, and the victims, who… have an important role to play.”
He clarified that acknowledging the rights of victims does not imply Duterte’s guilt. Instead, he reaffirmed the defense’s commitment to proving Duterte’s innocence through the proper legal channels.
The former president has been in ICC custody since March 11 and first appeared before the court on March 14. His confirmation of charges hearing is scheduled for September 23.
