Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

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/177838747158517769362455731776936242916.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A protester holds a life-size cartboard cutouts of former Philippines&#x27; president Rodrigo Duterte during a demonstration in his support outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on February 23, 2026. <em>Simon Wohlfahrt, AFP/File </em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE)</strong> — Defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman confirmed to ABS-CBN News on Sunday (Manila time) that former President Rodrigo Duterte was introduced to his new counsel the previous day.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/8/kaufman-jacobs-withdraw-as-lawyers-for-duterte-2358">Kaufman, Jacobs withdraw as lawyers for Duterte</a></div><p>“On Friday, the Registry of the Court requested my approval for the acquaintance visit of replacement counsel yesterday <span style="background-color:transparent">and in accordance with my professional and ethical obligations, I raised no objection”.</span></p><p>Kaufman revealed that it was Duterte’s daughter, Veronica &quot;Kitty&quot; Duterte and common wife Cielito &quot;Honeylet&quot; Avanceña who picked his successor counsel.</p><p>“Veronica informed me that she and her mother Honeylet had selected new counsel for PRRD and advised me to step down based on their assurance that they had agreed terms of engagement with replacement counsel who was willing to assume immediate representation. After I confirmed the same with the replacement counsel, I sought the former President’s permission to withdraw.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/3/kitty-duterte-says-digong-s-kids-skipped-watching-icc-hearing-1550">‘Hindi namin kaya’: Kitty Duterte says Digong&#x27;s kids skipped watching ICC hearing</a></div><p>Duterte&#x27;s camp has yet to disclose the identity of the new lawyer.</p><p>Kaufman had formally requested leave to withdraw from representing the Duterte patriarch, citing the termination of his one-year engagement and the former president’s decision to reorganize his legal team ahead of trial.</p><p>He assured that his replacement “is ready, willing and able to assume immediate representation and that his terms of engagement have been agreed,” noting that the new lawyer will be able to attend the status conference set for May 27, 2026.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/10/drug-war-victims-still-confident-to-face-icc-trial-vs-duterte-despite-defense-counsel-change-1310">Drug war victims still confident to face ICC trial vs Duterte despite defense counsel change</a></div><p>Associate Counsel Dov Jacobs was allowed to also withdraw from Duterte’s defense team. <strong><em>—With reports from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News</em></strong></p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9crX6E8kjRo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><em></em><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/99ZaM503PL0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5PrXJuYnQRY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Defense lawyer Nicholas said the new counsel was chosen by Veronica "Kitty" Duterte and Honeylet Avanceña.</p>

Defense lawyer Nicholas said the new counsel was chosen by Veronica "Kitty" Duterte and Honeylet Avanceña.

Rodrigo Duterte meets new legal counsel picked by Kitty, Honeylet after Kaufman exit

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Rodrigo Duterte meets new legal counsel picked by Kitty, Honeylet after Kaufman exit

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 10, 2026 12:33 PM PHT

|

Updated May 10, 2026 01:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

Honeylet

kitty duterte

icc

Nicholas Kaufman

Honeylet Avanceña

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