It was former President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter and common-law wife who made the decision to bring in new legal representation at the International Criminal Court — not the former president himself.
Outgoing defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman disclosed that Veronica “Kitty” Duterte and Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña were the ones who selected his replacement.
“Veronica informed me that she and her mother Honeylet had selected new counsel for PRRD and advised me to step down based on their assurance that they had agreed terms of engagement with replacement counsel who was willing to assume immediate representation. After I confirmed the same with the replacement counsel, I sought the former President’s permission to withdraw,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman confirmed the development to ABS-CBN News on Sunday (Manila time), adding that the incoming lawyer had already been introduced to Duterte. “On Friday, the Registry of the Court requested my approval for the acquaintance visit of replacement counsel yesterday and in accordance with my professional and ethical obligations, I raised no objection,” he said.
The identity of the successor counsel has not been made public by Duterte’s camp. Kaufman said his replacement “is ready, willing and able to assume immediate representation and that his terms of engagement have been agreed,” and is expected to appear at a status conference scheduled for May 27, 2026.
Kaufman had earlier filed to withdraw from the case, citing the conclusion of his one-year engagement and Duterte’s decision to reorganize his defense ahead of trial. Associate Counsel Dov Jacobs was likewise permitted to exit the legal team.
