Camille Naredo

Vice President Sara Duterte and Defense Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. House of Representatives/Michael Kooren, AFP/File

Article (news)

Vice President Sara Duterte and Defense Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754911017398081125_VPSD-Kaufman.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte and Defense Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. House of Representatives/Michael Kooren, AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte and Defense Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. <em>House of Representatives; Michael Kooren, AFP/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed her trust in the lawyer representing her detained father and former president Rodrigo Duterte as the date for his confirmation of charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) approaches.</div><p>Duterte, however, declined to give more details on how Nicholas Kaufman is handling the case.</p><p>Nonetheless, she answered in the affirmative when asked if she has confidence in the British lawyer’s preparations for the September hearing. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/lawyer-says-duterte-can-possibly-return-to-ph-in-interim-release-2259">READ: Lawyer says Duterte can &#x27;possibly&#x27; return to PH in interim release</a></div><p>“Siya ang pinili ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na lawyer so we only follow kung ano yung choice ng client. Siya naman ang kliyente, sa kanila naman ang professional arrangement,” she told reporters in Davao City. </p><p>“As long as nagsabi si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na yan ang aking mga abugado, susunod kami and mag-cooperate kami kung anong kailangan ng legal team,” she added.</p><p>Duterte was arrested on March 11  on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the ICC as part of its probe into his &quot;war on drugs&quot; that defined his presidency.</p><p>The ICC warrant for Duterte&#x27;s arrest said that as president, the 80-year-old Duterte allegedly created, funded, and armed death squads that carried out murders of purported drug users and dealers.</p><p>He was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day he was arrested.</p><p>Duterte on March 14 appeared via video link before ICC judges. He is set to attend a September 23 hearing to confirm the charges against him.</p><p>His defense team had said it would not call on witnesses at the confirmation hearing.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/kaufman-says-detention-center-officials-not-lawyers-decide-visiting-rights-for-duterte-1714">READ: Kaufman says ICC detention center officials, not lawyers, decide visiting rights for Duterte</a></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed her trust in the lawyer representing her detained father and former president Rodrigo Duterte as the date for his confirmation of charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) approaches.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed her trust in the lawyer representing her detained father and former president Rodrigo Duterte as the date for his confirmation of charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) approaches.

VP Sara expresses trust, confidence in Kaufman as dad’s hearing at ICC nears

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VP Sara expresses trust, confidence in Kaufman as dad’s hearing at ICC nears

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 11, 2025 07:18 PM PHT

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Updated August 11, 2025 11:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte

ICC

International Criminal Court

Nicholas Kaufman

ABSNews

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