Malacañang backs ICC warning vs media comments in Duterte case

Malacañang on Thursday expressed support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III’s move to warn parties in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s case about making comments before the media regarding the proceedings.

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said this in response to the statement of Presiding Judge Joanna Korner that the Duterte case garnered significant media and social media attention in the Philippines and appeared to have provoked “suppliers of fake news.”

“Naging makabuluhan po ang ipinahayag ng ICC dahil nakita po natin na hindi lamang po tayo ang nakakakita at nakakapansin ng pagkalat ng fake news at karamihan po dito ay talagang nanggaling sa kampo ng mga Duterte lalong-lalo na patungkol dito sa kaso sa ICC,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

(The statement made by the ICC is significant because it shows that we are not the only ones noticing the spread of fake news – much of which originates from the Duterte camp, particularly regarding the ICC case.)

Korner said reports on the earlier proceedings were not assisted by comments made by Duterte’s previous counsel, lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.

The judge also recalled that the Pre-Trial Chamber I previously reminded Kaufman of his duty to be respectful and courteous to the chamber.

For Malacañang’s part, it was only appropriate for the ICC to call Kaufman out.

“Tamang-tama lang po na na-call out si Atty. Kaufman dahil ang kanyang mga ipinapahayag ay pawang walang basehan, puro paninira sa gobyerno na hindi naman makakatulong sa depensa ng kanyang kliyente,” Castro said.

(It was only appropriate for Atty. Kaufman to be called out, as his statements were completely baseless and consisted merely of attacks against the government – actions that had nothing to do to help in his client's defense.)

“So, nakikita po natin na ang mga ipinapahayag ni Atty. Kaufman noon ay puro pamumulitika lamang,” she added.

(It is evident that Atty. Kaufman’s previous statements were only purely politicking.)

In May, Kaufman withdrew as Duterte’s counsel, indicating that the 81-year-old expressed a desire to release him from his representation and hire another counsel to replace him.

Lawyer Peter Haynes replaced him.

Duterte is facing charges for crimes against humanity over alleged killings during his time as President and Davao City mayor. He is set to face trial on November 30, 2026. — JMA, GMA News