Honeylet Avanceña and her daughter Veronica, known as Kitty, are taking charge of legal matters for former President Rodrigo Duterte's case at the International Criminal Court (ICC). This development comes as Nicholas Kaufman seeks to withdraw from his role as Duterte's chief defense lawyer.
According to Kaufman, the responsibility for ongoing legal issues, including the selection of counsel, has now shifted to Avanceña and Kitty. He confirmed their pivotal role in handling financial matters and other related decisions.
Kaufman, who has been representing Duterte since his arrest, stated that the new lawyer, whose name is confidential, is expected to meet Duterte soon. This change follows Kaufman's request for withdrawal, pending the former president's approval.
The funding and responsibility for ongoing legal matters, including the choice and recommendation of counsel, has now passed to (Avanceña) and her daughter Veronica.
Nicholas Kaufman
The new counsel is noted to be a foreign national, and Kaufman expressed his willingness to assist the incoming lawyer to ensure a smooth transition.
Kaufman’s tenure as Duterte's lead counsel was initially set for one year, covering only the pre-trial phase. He was selected for this role following Duterte's arrest and has previously represented high-profile cases at the ICC.
Despite the changes in the defense team, the Filipino legal staff assisting Kaufman expressed surprise at the restructuring. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III noted that they were unaware of these developments until now.
The former president faces serious charges, including three counts of murder as part of a broader investigation into the anti-drug campaign that allegedly resulted in thousands of deaths.