New lawyer joins Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC defense team
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on a screen in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, March 14, 2025. FILE PHOTO/Associated Press
MANILA, Philippines — Another lawyer has joined former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Based on a document by the ICC dated April 7, Dov Jacobs has been named as Associate Counsel upon the request of Duterte’s lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman.
READ: ICC confirms appointment of Nicholas Kaufman as Duterte lead counsel
“The appointment has been confirmed by the Registry on 3 April 2025, following Mr Jacobs’ acceptance,” the ICC said.
The ICC added that Jacobs had already signed the solemn Undertakings required by Article 5 of the Code before his appointment.
According to Jacobs’ LinkedIn account, he is a defense trial lawyer at the ICC and has 15 years of experience in international law, international criminal law and human rights.
He also teaches in various universities and provides training for counsel at the ICC.
READ: War on drugs: The violence, scars, doubts and families it left behind
Jacobs’ official website also shows that he is currently part of the defense teams of Laurent Gbagbo and Mahamat Said at the ICC, as well as involved in the case of Félicien Kabuga at the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals.
He also served as an Amicus Curiae in both the Afghanistan and Palestine situations at the ICC.
The ICC currently has custody of Duterte, following his arrest and transfer to The Hague for crimes against humanity he allegedly committed during his administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Duterte’s infamous war on drugs left at least 6,000 people dead, with human rights groups reporting the toll could be as high as 20,000.
