Kaufman: Duterte says he has accepted his fate, chance he'd die in prison

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he has “accepted his fate” and the possibility that he might die in prison amid the murder and frustrated murder charges he is facing before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his drug war, lawyer Nicholas Kaufman said Friday.

“I was a faithful servant of the people, and that is how I wish to be remembered. I have now accepted my fate, and I realize I could die in prison,” Kaufman quoted Duterte as saying in the defense counsel's closing remarks.

However, Prosecutor and Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls requested the Pre-Trial Chamber I to strike and not to take any account of any word regarding Duterte.

“None of that was responsive to arguments, which was what this last 30 minutes were about... Second of all, my friend can’t testify for his client or make a speech for his client,” he said.

“If he wanted to come here, he didn’t want to come here. He could have come here and talked about what he wanted to, but he chose not to. Mr. Kaufman’s conveying this, he’s been complaining about hearsay all day,” he added. 

Similar to previous hearings, Duterte did not take part in the hearing. He earlier waived his right to attend the proceedings, saying he does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction over him.

READ: DAY IN COURT: ICC Hearings on the Charges vs. Duterte

According to Kaufman, Duterte told him that he had “done his duty” and “left his legacy.”

“Go to court and do your job, but I can never help you. I no longer remember much at all, and I can’t comment on people whom I do not know and on statistics that mean nothing to me,” Kaufman said.

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor has charged Duterte with 3 counts of crimes against humanity for alleged murder and attempted murder during his time as mayor and president.

During his visit to the former official, Kaufman said Duterte asked him the same question he has asked for a year: “How does the prosecution say I did this?”

He said he informed Duterte that the ICC Prosecution told the Pre-Trial Chamber I that they had enough evidence to convict him even without his speeches.

“The former president repeated the question. But how? I’ve never murdered anyone. But they talk about thousands?” he said.

Kaufman said Duterte also told him that he had never heard about the witnesses.

“Apart from two, whom he vaguely recalls from his days as mayor. Concerning one, his comment is 'liar' and concerning the other, 'scallywag',” he said. –NB, GMA Integrated News