A veteran international criminal lawyer with more than two decades of experience will take over the legal defense of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court, following the withdrawal of his previous counsel.
Nicholas Kaufman, who had been representing Duterte at the ICC, disclosed in a three-page filing that Peter Haynes — a former president of the ICC Bar Association — has been confirmed as the incoming counsel. Kaufman noted that Haynes had already agreed to the terms of engagement and was prepared to assume representation immediately.
“Counsel has spoken to Mr. Haynes who has indeed confirmed that he is ready willing and able to assume immediate representation and that his terms of engagement have been agreed. Counsel informed Mr. Haynes of pending deadlines and Mr. Haynes assured him that he will be able to attend the status conference set for 27 May 2026,” the filing stated.
The transition follows a visit by the defense team to Duterte, who is being held in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity of murder linked to his administration’s drug war. According to the filing, Duterte formally released Kaufman from his representation during that visit and expressed his wish to retain Haynes as replacement.
The selection of the new counsel was handled by Duterte’s longtime partner Honeylet Avanceña and their daughter Veronica Duterte.
Kaufman, who had taken on the case under a contract covering the pretrial phase for one year or the conclusion of the confirmation hearing, expressed confidence in the handover. “I am convinced that the continuity and efficacy of Mr. Duterte’s representation will remain assured through Mr. Haynes, who has a wealth of experience at the International Criminal Court, and the existing defence team. Counsel thanks Mr. Haynes for his extremely graceful, supportive and collegial approach,” he said.
Haynes brings a broad background in criminal and humanitarian law, including a practice that has covered murder, serious fraud, sexual offenses, and human trafficking cases over 25 years. One of his more prominent ICC appearances involved Congolese politician and former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was acquitted of crimes against humanity in 2018.
