MANILA – Former President Rodrigo Duterte was touched by the show of support by Filipinos during his 80th birthday on March 28, according to his lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman.
“He was made aware of the huge demonstration of support. It touched him deeply and he thanks all his supporters,” Kaufman said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel’s On Point program.
“This has happened in other cases as well. When the case gets into the critical stage, there is always a huge demonstration of support from the people of the country concerned. And that happens quite frequently in this Court,” he added.
Kaufman added that the former President is in good spirits but is still adjusting to his life inside the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center in The Hague, Netherlands.
“His in good spirits and I will keep on saying that because he is in good spirits,” Kaufman said. “Obviously, he’s 80 years old and with all the accompanying medical issues…. it’s not easy to get adjusted to life in…. ICC detention, so those are the challenges he is facing at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Kaufman also said that he is open to seeking an interim release for the former Philippine leader from the detention facility but will be waiting for the right timing.
“Interim release is a complex process. We’re considering it and we’ll file it on the appropriate time,” said Kaufman, who added that he will not tell the media when he is going to file anything in court.
“The jurisdictional arguments… they’ve been considered in the Supreme Court in the Philippines, they’ve been considered by the International Court. These are still valid live arguments and they will be argued in Court at the right time,” he added.
Kaufman also stressed the belief that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute is a strong argument.
“I believe that there is a strong argument for the lack of ability to exercise jurisdiction given the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute,” he said. “I hope that the judges will accept my submissions.”
“They might decide that they don’t want to hear it in the early stages, they might want to combine it with the confirmation hearing itself. I hope that will not happen, but once again, it’s not my position now to presume anything. I just make my submission, and the judges will decide,” he added.
Duterte is accused of alleged crimes against humanity./PN
