Rodrigo Duterte won’t replace his lawyers, VP Sara says

Former president Rodrigo Duterte is firm on not replacing members of his defense team that is handling his case at the International Criminal Court (ICC), his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, said. 

VP Sara, who is currently in The Hague, Netherlands to visit her detained father, said that she relayed to him concerns of supporters who are not satisfied with how his legal team is faring. 

“Tinanong ko si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Sabi ko, exactly kung ano ‘yung tanong ninyo—Gusto mo ba palitan at hindi ka pa satisfied? Sabi niya, ‘Hindi palitan,’” the Vice President said in an interview on January 28. 

(I asked former president Rodrigo Duterte. I asked him what exactly your question was—Do you want to change your lawyers because you are still not satisfied? He said they won’t be replaced.) 

She, however, said her father has left some instructions for his lawyers. 

“Pero meron siyang mga instructions na ibinigay…sa legal team. Hindi ko nasabi kung ano ‘yung mga instructions dahil ano naman na ‘yun, hindi na mahalaga,” she added. 

(But he gave instructions to his legal team. I wasn’t able to tell them the instructions because they are not that important.) 

Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11, 2025, based on a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC. 

He is currently detained in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity for alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration's drug war.

The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 earlier said that Rodrigo Duterte was fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings in the crimes against humanity charges that he is facing over the deaths blamed on his war on drugs when he was the country's President.

The ICC chamber thus set his confirmation of charges on February 23 as it denied his request for indefinite adjournment.

Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, the former president’s lead defense counsel, said they will seek to appeal the decision.

Kaufman also said that their camp is disappointed that they were denied the opportunity to present their own medical evidence regarding the former president. —VAL, GMA Integrated News