Malacañang is calling out Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsel for what it sees as a misplaced fixation on Philippine politics at the expense of his client’s defense.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro fired back at Atty. Nicholas Kaufman on Friday after the former president’s chief ICC lawyer accused the Marcos administration of actively supporting the prosecution in The Hague proceedings.
“He should focus on his defense and legal strategies, not on President Marcos Jr. He is losing track of his case because he keeps monitoring Philippine politics. He should do his best for his client, not for the political careers of his client’s children,” Castro said in a Viber message to reporters.
The remark was a pointed reference to Kaufman’s public comments in the Netherlands, where he told international media that Manila has been working against his client since before Duterte was handed over to the International Criminal Court.
“The Philippine government headed by President Bongbong Marcos is not going to help us in any way whatsoever. It’s been helping the prosecution right from before the time that the former president was surrendered to the court, but it’s not going to help Mr. Duterte,” Kaufman said.
The Palace has consistently rejected any framing of Duterte’s transfer to the ICC as political. When Duterte departed Manila for The Hague on March 11, 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the handover as part of the country’s obligations to Interpol, not an act of political targeting.
A day before Castro’s response to Kaufman, she also addressed the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision to confirm all charges of crimes against humanity against the former president — a ruling Malacañang said it respects.
“Justice is what needs to be achieved in these cases. Both parties will benefit from it. Justice for the accused if they are innocent, and justice for the victims if their rights were violated,” Castro said.
