Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Zen Hernandez

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/1778583534033haynes2 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">British barrister and international criminal lawyer Peter Haynes.<em> International Criminal Court Bar Association photo</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED)- Former president Rodrigo Duterte has tapped prominent British barrister Peter Haynes as his new counsel before the International Criminal Court (ICC), following the withdrawal of Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs from the defense team.</p><p>Haynes is considered one of the leading practitioners in international criminal and humanitarian law, with more than 25 years of experience before tribunals in The Hague, including the ICC, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.</p><p>According to his LinkedIn profile, Haynes is a “Defence trial advocate with substantial experience before both the ad hoc international criminal tribunals, and the International Criminal Court (ICC), including ‘the largest criminal trial since the second world war’ (Popovic et al.,). One of the few advocates to have conducted a trial at the ICC.”</p><p>The <a href="https://st-philips.com/our_people/peter-haynes-kc/">St Philipps Barristers website </a>described Haynes as &quot;one of the foremost practitioners in International Criminal and Humanitarian Law,  and has spent more than two decades appearing before various tribunals in the Hague. </p><p>Before the ICTY, Haynes represented Bosnian Serb General Vinko Pandurević in proceedings related to the Srebrenica massacre.</p><p>At the ICC, he represented former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba and helped secure Bemba’s acquittal on appeal. </p><p>In 2024, the ICC appointed him to represent the interests of Ugandan militant and warlord, Joseph Kony, in the court’s first-ever in absentia confirmation proceedings. </p><p>He later appeared as lead defense counsel during the September 2025 hearings.</p><p>Haynes also represented victims of the Beirut bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.</p><p>His practice has involved cases on genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and international terrorism. </p><p>From 2019 to 2021, he served as president of the International Criminal Court Bar Association, becoming the first person re-elected to the post.</p><p>Outside international tribunals, Haynes has appeared in British courts in cases involving murder, fraud, sexual offenses, human trafficking, and complex conspiracies. He has also advised governments, heads of state, and NGOs on international legal matters.</p><p>Duterte’s legal team is undergoing a major transition following the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I’s April 23 decision confirming all three counts of crimes against humanity against the former president and committing the case to trial.</p><p>The charges stem from alleged killings committed in connection with Duterte’s anti-drug campaign and the so-called Davao Death Squad between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019. The ICC found “substantial grounds to believe” Duterte bears responsibility for the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder.</p><p>A Trial Chamber has since been constituted to handle the proceedings, with the next phase expected to focus on preparations for trial.</p><p>The ICC Trial Chamber III earlier Monday accepted British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman&#x27;s withdrawal as former Duterte&#x27;s lead defense counsel.</p><p>The Chamber, in a May 11, 2026 document, said he panel has been informed that &quot;the Accused has expressed a desire to release Mr Kaufman from his representation and hire another counsel to replace him.&quot;</p><p>In a filing dated May 8, Kaufman noted that his engagement “terminated on 31 March 2026.” </p><p>He added that the defense team had met with Duterte and “documented both Mr Duterte’s release of Counsel from his representation and his desire to hire a replacement.”</p><p>Kaufman confirmed that the incoming lawyer “is ready, willing and able to assume immediate representation and that his terms of engagement have been agreed.” </p><div><strong>READ MORE</strong></div><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><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/duterte-at-the-icc">Duterte at ICC: Latest News and Updates</a></div><div><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/3oEA5QmOenI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Former president Rodrigo Duterte has tapped prominent British barrister Peter Haynes as his new counsel before the International Criminal Court (ICC), following the withdrawal of Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs from the defense team.</p>

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has tapped prominent British barrister Peter Haynes as his new counsel before the International Criminal Court (ICC), following the withdrawal of Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs from the defense team.

PROFILE: Who is Peter Haynes, Duterte's new ICC lawyer?

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PROFILE: Who is Peter Haynes, Duterte's new ICC lawyer?

Zen Hernandez,

Jojo Pasion Malig,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 12, 2026 06:54 PM PHT

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Updated May 12, 2026 07:42 PM PHT

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Peter Haynes

Rodrigo Duterte

ICC

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