THE HAGUE– Kumpiyansa ang British-Israeli lawyer na si Nicholas Kaufman na malakas ang depensa ng kliyente niyang si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para mapawang-sala sa International Criminal Court (ICC).

Sa panayam matapos niyang bisitahin ang nakadetineng si Duterte, sinabi ni Kaufmann na “very confident" siya sa "strongest defense" ng dating pangulo.

"I’m very confident [Duterte would] be acquitted indeed, even at the earliest stage,” saad niya.

Sinabi rin ni Kaufman na nitong Lunes siya pormal na naging bahagi ng defense team ni Duterte, at posibleng maipasok ito sa court system ng ICC sa Martes.

“At the present moment in time, I’ve just been appointed. It is my job and I’m privileged to carry this job out to compose the team for him. That would obviously be done in complete consultation with him and all those around him,” ani Kaufman.

Nang tanungin kung tiwala siyang makakauwi ng bansa si Duterte, tugon niya, “[I] certainly hope[s] so.”

Kinumpirma rin ni Kaufman na may ihahain na petisyon mula sa kampo ni Duterte bago ang nakatakdang pagdinig para sa confirmation of charges sa September 23.

“Once again, it’s not for me to comment on the defense strategy at this moment in time,” paliwanag niya.

Nahaharap sa reklamong crime against humanity si Duterte dahil sa dami ng nasawi sa anti-drug campaign ng kaniyang administrasyon.

Sinabi rin ni Kaufman na "in good spirits” si Duterte “and he’s being taken care of by appropriate services.”

“I’m available to visit the former president as long as I am here [and] as long as I am allowed to do so. I promised him that I’d come every day that I’m in The Hague,” dagdag niya.

Halos isang oras bago umalis ng Hague Penitentiary Institution si Kaufman kung saan nakadetine si Duterte, dinala naman sa ospital si Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, sakay ng ambulansiya.
 
Hindi pa malinaw kung bakit dinala si Medialdea sa ospital, at hindi rin nagbigay si Kaufman ng detalye tungkol sa kalagayan ng dating executive secretary ni Duterte.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to go into details concerning Atty. Bingbong [Medialdea]’s condition at the moment. It’s an issue of medical privacy,” paliwanag ni Kaufman.

Sa isang statement, sinabi ng Philippine Embassy sa The Hague na “currently receiving treatment” sa isang ospital sa The Hague si Medialdea. – mula sa ulat ni Andy Penafuerte/FRJ, GMA Integrated News