Camille Naredo

Families of extrajudicial killing victims gather at the University of the Philippines Diliman to watch the International Criminal Court pre-trial proceedings in The Hague involving the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte on February 23, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Families of extrajudicial killing victims gather at the University of the Philippines Diliman to watch the International Criminal Court pre-trial proceedings in The Hague involving the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

EJK- ICC

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177828098072520260223-icc-duterte-victim-families-up-MT13.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Families of extrajudicial killing victims gather at the University of the Philippines Diliman to watch the International Criminal Court pre-trial proceedings in The Hague involving the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte on February 23, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Families of extrajudicial killing victims gather at the University of the Philippines Diliman to watch the International Criminal Court pre-trial proceedings in The Hague involving the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte on February 23, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Victims of the drug war are seeking assurance that proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not be delayed following changes in the defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte.This was stressed by lawyer Kristina Conti, who said the accused has the right to choose his counsel, but such a move should not disrupt the pace of the case.&quot;The accused Rodrigo Duterte does have the right to counsel of choice. But victims want to be assured that the change will not result in any delay,&quot; Conti said.Conti emphasized that the entry of a new lawyer does not automatically reset court timelines or create new legal remedies for the defense.Her statement came after lawyers Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs moved to withdraw from Duterte&#x27;s defense team, following a reported reorganization of his legal representation.  <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/8/kaufman-jacobs-withdraw-as-lawyers-for-duterte-2358">READ: Kaufman, Jacobs withdraw as lawyers for Duterte</a></div>Despite the change, Conti noted that Kaufman had committed that a new lead counsel would be present during the status conference scheduled on May 27, 2026.&quot;We&#x27;ll take that with a grain of salt,&quot; she said.According to Conti, victims will continue to relay their concerns through their common legal representatives, who are expected to appear before the court on the same date.She added that the prevailing sentiment among victims is for the trial to begin at the soonest possible time.Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity before the ICC in connection with killings linked to his anti-drug campaign during his administration.

Victims of the drug war are seeking assurance that proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not be delayed following changes in the defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Victims of the drug war are seeking assurance that proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not be delayed following changes in the defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

EJK victims seek no delay as Duterte legal team changes — Conti

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EJK victims seek no delay as Duterte legal team changes — Conti

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 09, 2026 06:59 AM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

International Criminal Court

ICC

Kristina Conti

Nicholas Kaufman

Dov Jacobs

Duterte at ICC

war on drugs

crime against humanity

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