The International Criminal Court Trial Chamber III has ordered the disclosure of the name of the new lawyer who will represent former president Rodrigo Duterte in his trial for crimes against humanity. At the same time, the chamber approved the request of lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman to withdraw from the case.
“[T]he Chamber is of the view that no prejudice arises or inconvenience is caused by accepting Mr. Kaufman’s withdrawal,” it said in a five-page decision dated May 11. Kaufman said his one-year contract as lead counsel for Duterte’s pre-trial ended on March 31.
Kaufman filed his withdrawal request on May 8 through a publicly redacted document after Duterte informed him in a meeting the previous day that he has hired another lawyer to represent him in the trial proceedings. The incoming counsel’s identity was withheld.
In an interview with three media outfits, Kaufman revealed it was Duterte’s daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte and common wife Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña who picked his successor counsel. Funds for Duterte’s legal cases are now being handled by Avanceña, he added.
The chamber said Kaufman has not provided any justification for keeping the name of Duterte’s new counsel confidential, and unless he submits reasons by May 11, it instructed the Registry to reclassify the filing as public to show the identity.
The ICC’s Registry is responsible for the non-judicial aspects of the administration and servicing of the court.
Meanwhile, Ruben Carranza, senior associate at the International Center for Transitional Justice, asked in a Facebook post: “Is Peter Haynes the new ICC lawyer of Duterte?”
Kaufman’s replacement will immediately represent Duterte in the next phase of the proceedings, including the first status conference scheduled on May 27, during which the chamber is expected to discuss the trial schedule and scope of evidence, among other matters.