Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is no longer welcome in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team, according to Duterte’s lead counsel Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, who strongly criticized Roque for his repeated interventions in the ex-president’s ongoing case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Kaufman, in a Facebook post shared by pro-Duterte page Alvin and Tourism, made it clear that neither Duterte nor his inner circle wants Roque involved in the legal proceedings related to alleged crimes against humanity.
“From day one, Harry Roque has portrayed himself as the only person capable of defending the former President, motivating the public against me and my team,” Kaufman said, expressing frustration over Roque’s public behavior.
He emphasized that the former president “has made it known” that Roque should stop meddling in the case and instead “return to the Philippines to sort out his own troubling legal issues.”
Roque had earlier drawn Kaufman’s ire after reportedly proposing legal action against the Dutch government, accusing it of facilitating Duterte’s possible transfer to The Hague.
“A Dutch lawyer confirmed to me that Harry Roque approached him with an initiative to sue the Dutch Government,” Kaufman said. He described the move as “a crazy scheme,” warning that such action could backfire by jeopardizing cooperation with the Dutch authorities.
The strong rebuke marks a clear break between Duterte’s camp and his former spokesman, whose recent actions are now seen as a distraction rather than support.
