Removal of 3 Filipino lawyers in ICC case against Duterte sought

National

THE defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte has formally requested the removal of three Filipino lawyers in the ongoing proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Duterte’s lawyers raised questions over the roles of the three legal counsels representing drug war victims, a report by Inquirer.net.

In an 11-page filing released Thursday, defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman asked the tribunal to disqualify lawyers Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres, who were appointed just two weeks ago to assist victims participating in the case.

Kaufman also moved for the exclusion of Nicole Arcaina, a Filipino legal professional recently designated by the ICC as case manager for the victims, arguing that their continued involvement could affect the fairness of the proceedings.

The defense submission reportedly questioned possible conflicts and emphasized the need to preserve the integrity and impartiality of the judicial process as the high-profile case moves forward.

Butuyan and Andres are known for their work in human rights litigation and have been assisting families of alleged victims linked to the controversial anti-drug campaign launched during Duterte’s presidency.

The ICC has been investigating allegations of crimes against humanity tied to the thousands of deaths recorded during anti-illegal drug operations under the administration of Duterte.

The ICC has yet to issue a ruling on the defense request.(Victoria Diana, USJR Comm Intern)