Palace on Kaufman's claims: He's like a novel writer

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Tuesday likened former President Rodrigo Duterte's defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman to a writer of a novel, noting that what he said before the International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber was meant to appeal to the emotions of Filipinos. 

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Castro said Kaufman should focus on the real issue, which is the alleged extrajudicial killings committed during the stint of his client.

''Sa ganitong klaseng drama, para siyang nobela eh. 'Yung nagsasalita kahapon para siyang writer ng isang nobela na para to appeal... This is definitely an appeal to the emotions of the Filipino people,'' Castro said.

(In this kind of drama, it's like a novel. The person speaking yesterday was like a writer of a novel to appeal... this is definitely an appeal to the emotions of the Filipino people.) 

''Ang dating Pangulo umano ay kinidnap, matanda na, frail, pinagkaisahan, when in fact ang isyu dito, common plan ng pagpapapatay. 'Yun ang may usapan, 'yun ang may sabwatan umano. Doon siya tumutok,'' she added.

(The former president was supposedly kidnapped, he's old, frail, when in fact the real issue here is the systemic killings. That's the real issue. He should focus on that.) 

LIVE sa DZBB: Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Usec. Clarissa “Claire” Castro

????: @dzbb 594 kHz
????: #DobolBTV
????: https://t.co/Q2O7oZOmUH
????: https://t.co/aknFO1an7c
??: https://t.co/cao9CICvyl pic.twitter.com/6vgukBGYjD

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 24, 2026

Kaufman also claimed before the ICC Pre-Trial chamber that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. sought to neutralize his predecessor and his legacy.

Castro called the claim as preposterous.

"Kaufman has the temerity to accuse President Marcos of trying to neutralize Duterte's legacy. That is preposterous," she said Monday night.

"He seems to be the one suffering from severe cognitive impairment, and not his client, because he tremendously forgets the timeline, since the crimes against humanity cases were filed before the International Criminal Court in 2017, when President Marcos, Jr. was still a private citizen," she added.

In a separate Balitanghali interview, Castro said it is Kaufman's client who is an expert in neutralization. 

''Hindi ba ang kanyang kliyente ang eksperto sa pagneutralize? Pagneutralize sa media, pagneutralize sa mga nasasangkot sa ilegal drugs...'' Castro said.

(Isn't it his client who is an expert in neutralization, such as neutralizing the media and those involved in illegal drugs.) 

''Siya mismo ang nagsabi na siya ay nagpapapatay (He admitted that he is involved in killings),'' she added.

In March 2025, Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Hours later, he was flown to The Netherlands.

Malacañang has previously rejected Duterte’s claim that he was “kidnapped” by the Philippine authorities, saying that the Philippine government only honored its commitments with the Interpol. 

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor has charged Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder, in connection with his anti-narcotics campaign.

The next hearings are scheduled for February 24, 26, and 27. —AOL, GMA Integrated News