Kaufman: Marcos seeks to ‘neutralize’ Duterte, his legacy

This report is part of Inquirer’s special coverage of Duterte at the ICC. For real-time updates, follow our live coverage of the confirmation hearing.

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lead legal counsel before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of seeking to “neutralize” the former chief executive.

Atty. Nicholas Kaufman made the statement during the first day of the confirmation of charges hearing against Duterte before the ICC pre-trial chamber I, where he cited a document that supposedly contained a transcript of a telephone call between four parties, including a “silent partner” for Marcos.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing at ICC

While Kaufman did not identify who these parties were, he claimed that Marcos’ “silent partner” was “boasting about managing a scheme” to influence the ICC case versus Duterte.

“One of these parties was boasting, boasting about how he was acting as the silent partner of President [Marcos], managing a scheme to funnel witnesses to this court, while all the time ensuring that he could guarantee President [Marcos’] plausible deniability,” the lawyer said in the defense team’s opening statement.

This, he said, proved that Marcos intended to “neutralize” Duterte and his legacy.

“So it is indeed the defense case that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. set out to neutralize Rodrigo Duterte, and his legacy,” Kaufman said.

“I use that legendary word, neutralize, so central and so essential to your case theory, because you know just as well as me that I’m using the term metaphorically,” he added.

Kaufman also pointed out how Marcos failed to honor his supposed promise not to assist the ICC “in any way, shape, or form” in its investigation of the former president.

“For President Bongbong Marcos, his word is for the wind, and the people will not forget it,” Kaufman said, referring to a letter shown during the proceedings.

He further claimed that Duterte was “unconstitutionally and unceremoniously hauled off to The Hague,” following these developments.

Duterte is facing crimes against humanity charges before the ICC due to his administration’s bloody war against drugs, which killed at least 6,000 people based on government records, and over 30,000 based on human rights records.

The confirmation of charges hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to elevate the case into a full trial.

The Chamber is expected to issue its decision on the confirmation of charges within 60 days after the confirmation hearing. /dp