Duterte camp withdraws appeal vs. victims’ lawyers

The camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte has withdrawn its request to appeal the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruling not to revoke the appointment of the lawyers representing the victims in the case.

In a 3-page filing dated March 16, Duterte’s defense team notified the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I of its withdrawal.

“The present notification is without prejudice to any further recourse available to the defense in order to raise the issue of what it perceives to be an impediment to representation on the part of the Common Legal Representatives for Victims,” it said.

The document was signed by Duterte’s legal counsel, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman.

To recall, the defense previously sought the disqualification of Filipino lawyers Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres on the grounds of an impediment to representation and conflict of interest.

The Chamber rejected the request, stating the defense failed to show a conflict of interest on the part of Butuyan and Andres.

This prompted the Duterte camp to ask the chamber to allow it to appeal.

Duterte is facing charges of murder and frustrated murder over killings during his time as mayor of Davao and as President of the Philippines.

From February 23 to 27, the Chamber held his confirmation of charges hearing. The court will then decide whether to confirm the charges and commit him to trial, stop the proceedings, or to direct further investigation. —VAL, GMA Integrated News