Roque, Medialdea, British counsel to form Duterte's defense team

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday bared the legal team of former President Rodrigo Duterte who's facing charges for crimes against humanity in connection with the killings under his administration's war on drugs.

Roque said Duterte's lawyers will include himself, former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and a member of the British Bar, a certain Attorney Kaufman whom he said is another listed ICC counsel.

"Sa ngayon ay iisa pa lang ang na-recognize na lawyer, si Attorney Medialdea dahil siya nga yung kasama. Pero we have filled up all the documents para mapasama din ako sa team of counsels," Roque told reporters.

"I’m in the list counsel of the ICC, and we have also retained another member of the listed counsel who is British. Initially, there will be three of us standing as counsels. The other one is Kaufman. Attorney Kaufman of the British Bar. Two of us from the listed counsel and Attorney Medialdea," he added.

Roque said Vice President Sara Duterte, who's also a lawyer, will be in the gallery to witness the first hearing.

"So I feel strongly that before the hearing not only I should be able to have access to him as a member of the listed counsel of the court, but the family should have access to him," Roque said.

He said Duterte was not seen on Thursday because he was supposed to have received a medical examination.

"We have just submitted the form to visit him para hindi naman kauna unahang beses magkita sila ni Vice President dito sa hukuman," Roque said.

"So actually ang priority ko is to make sure magkita muna silang magama dahil hindi pa alam ni Presidente na nandito si Vice President. Parang it's not proper naman na hindi alam ng ama na nandito ang anak niya," he added. –NB, GMA Integrated News