ICC defense lawyer Kaufman says 'welfare visit' meant to get intel on Duterte health

Nicholas Kaufman, former President Rodrigo Duterte's lawyer before the International Criminal Court (ICC), on Wednesday alleged that the visit of the Philippine Embassy was “calculated to obtain intelligence” regarding his medical condition, saying that it was not coordinated with the defense.

Kaufman noted that the visit came following the disclosure of the defense's request for indefinite adjournment, where he said that Duterte lacked the capacity to apply the cognitive skills essential for the proper conduct of his defense.

“Of more concern, however, is the fact that this visit… was, without a shadow of a doubt, calculated to obtain intelligence concerning the former President’s medical condition,” Kaufman said in a statement.

“The Defence is still obtaining information and considering the appropriate legal avenue to address this gross invasion of privacy and attempt to subvert the legal process by exploiting a detainee’s medical infirmity,” he added.

Earlier, Vice President Sara Duterte raised concerns regarding a “welfare check” that was supposedly conducted by the Philippine Embassy in The Hague for her father while in detention. 

For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the embassy’s visit is in line with its functions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and relevant Philippine laws to protect the welfare of all Filipinos. 

The ICC Prosecutor has charged Duterte with murder and frustrated murder as crimes against humanity over 49 incidents in his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and as President of the Philippines.

His confirmation of charges hearing, initially scheduled on September 23, has been postponed after the defense claimed that he was unfit to stand trial. –NB, GMA Integrated News