Duterte lawyer Kaufman calls ICC live broadcast redactions as unfair

Nicholas Kaufman, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsel on Friday labeled as unfair the redactions on the live broadcast of the International Criminal Court (ICC) during Duterte's confirmation of charges.

In his closing remarks, Kaufman said he found the redactions “unfair and contrary to the spirit of transparency." 

He said that his submissions on the merits would require him to go into closed session.

“From this, I submit you can really appreciate the true inequality of arms facing the defense as it attempts to defend the client in the public eye, I stress, in the public eye of the ICC,” Kaufman said.

“This inequality of arms in the public eye expresses itself in the way the prosecution controls the narrative,” he added.

The Pre-Trial Chamber I previously said there were redactions in the live broadcast due to the Duterte team’s disclosure of information that could lead to the identification of victims and witnesses.

Following Kaufman’s remarks, Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc reminded that the Pre-Trial Chamber has denied the defense’s position on the redaction.

“And I should say that equality of arms is ensured because the defense has access to the redacted information. It just is not available to the public,” Motoc said.

Motoc said that the issue regarding Duterte’s fitness to stand trial had been previously addressed by the Chamber.

In January, the chamber found that Duterte was fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings against him as it denied his request for indefinite adjournment.

“The defense must not make submissions on that point now because it is not appropriate and the decision is already available in the public domain,” she said.

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

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. –NB, GMA Integrated News