Marilyn Cahatol

Defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman during the first session of the confirmation of charges hearings at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on February 23, 2026. ICC Handout

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Confirmation of Charges opened on 23 February 2026

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177225009853320260223-icc-duterte-defense-nicholas-kaufman-HO.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman during the first session of the confirmation of charges hearings at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on February 23, 2026. <em>ICC Handout </em></span></span></span></div><p>THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team was “grasping at straws” in convincing the International Criminal Court (ICC) that there was insufficient evidence of crimes against humanity attributed to the Philippines’ 16th chief executive, one of the lawyers for drug war victims said on Friday after the four-day confirmation of charges proceedings here.</p><p>Defense lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman ended his closing statements with an appeal to emotions because he could not present “substantial” evidence to exonerate Duterte from ordering a carnage during his presidency, said human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, who has been helping drug war victims in the Philippines.</p><p>“Brilliant actually yung ginawa niya na yung kwento naipasok niya. Brilliant in the sense na naiisip niya yun kasi grasping at straws talaga,” Colmenares told reporters in a chance interview outside the ICC.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/27/duterte-high-value-target-list-not-a-code-for-killing-or-witch-hunt-lawyer-1943">Duterte &#x27;high-value target&#x27; list not a code for killing or &#x27;witch hunt&#x27; — lawyer<br/></a></div><p>“Wala silang ma-present na anything substantial so pumunta na lang doon sa kaawaan na lang siya, he just did this for his country,” he said.</p><p>“Lahat naman ng kinakasuhan, kahit si Hitler, sasabihin na I did this for my country.”</p><p>Duterte’s defense team was hoping that painting him as a pitiful 80-year-old in detention would have an impact on the proceedings, Colmenares said.</p><p>“Legal and social media ang dalawang konsiderasyon dito,” he said.</p><p>“Kahit i-strike out yun from court records, alam niya na irereport yun ng media all over the world so naisip niya pa yun, magaling din,” he said.</p><p>The prosecution panel moved to strike parts of Kaufman’s closing statements — where the defense counsel detailed conversations with the aging Duterte — underscoring that these were irrelevant to the case, and may constitute as hearsay.</p><p>Kaufman refuted the criticism, maintaining that his arguments are “professional” and “100 percent necessary.&quot;</p><p>“I’m representing a client who’s been locked up who hasn’t seen the public so of course I am going to address the public who want to see him,” the British-Israeli lawyer said.</p><p>“I did not testify on his behalf, that’s the difficulty that I’m facing, and the reasons why he didn’t present himself before the chamber, not out of disrespect but he raised a legitimate argument that he does not recognize the possibility of the court exercising jurisdiction over him,” he said.</p><p>“It was 100 percent necessary and it irritated people.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/icc-opens-duterte-confirmation-of-charges-hearings-1718">&#x27;Those in power are not above the law&#x27;: ICC prosecution lays down evidence vs Duterte in first pre-trial hearing</a></div><p>The defense panel is confident that they “attacked every one of those counts which alleged that Mr. Duterte murdered 78 victims,” Kaufman said.</p><p>“We deny that completely,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;HOW CAN THEY SAY NOBODY DIED?&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Llore Pasco — who lost her two sons to the &quot;drug war&quot; — said she felt no pity for the former president who did not hesitate to repeatedly order wanton killings when he was still in power.</p><p>“Paano sasabihin na walang namatay, na walang nag-utos? E ano yung namatay na libo-libo? Saan nanggaling yun? Kung hindi nanggaling sa kaniya yung order, wala yun,” she said.</p><p>&quot;Wala po akong naramdamang awa dahil noong nag-utos siya noong panahon niya na patayin yung aming mga mahal sa buhay, wala namang awa doon kung hindi puro utos na patayin lahat ng adik, lahat ng salot sa lipunan na sinasabi,” she said.</p><p>“Bakit kami maaawa ngayon e nandito na yan sa korte,” she said.</p><p>Sheera Escudero — whose 18-year old brother was found dead in Pampanga riddled with bullets and with his head wrapped in tape — said she is excited to come home to the Philippines after the week-long proceedings here.</p><p>“I am very excited to finally go home pagkatapos po nito at ikwento sa mga nanay kung ano yung itsura ng due process na pinagkait sa amin ng mahabang panahon.”</p><div><a href="http://LIST: Day 4 highlights of Duterte ICC pre-trial hearing">LIST: Day 4 highlights of Duterte ICC pre-trial hearing</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cmlg9oTnSDI?si=8k8eJ1FOC24CcWes" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team was “grasping at straws” in convincing the International Criminal Court (ICC) that there was insufficient crimes against humanity evidence against the Philippines’ 16th chief executive, one of the lawyers for drug war victims said on Friday.</p>

Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team was “grasping at straws” in convincing the International Criminal Court (ICC) that there was insufficient crimes against humanity evidence against the Philippines’ 16th chief executive, one of the lawyers for drug war victims said on Friday.

Duterte’s defense ‘grasping at straws’, victims’ camp says as ICC confirmation hearing concludes

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Duterte’s defense ‘grasping at straws’, victims’ camp says as ICC confirmation hearing concludes

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 28, 2026 12:04 PM PHT

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Rodrigo Duterte

International Criminal Court

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