MANILA – Malacañang on Friday urged former president Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsel to concentrate on preparing for his client’s defense before the International Criminal Court (ICC), instead of engaging in political commentary about developments in the Philippines.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said lawyer Nicholas Kaufman should prioritize legal work and courtroom strategy rather than making statements tied to Philippine politics.

“He should focus on his defense and legal strategies, not on President [Ferdinand R.] Marcos Jr.,” Castro said.

She added that Kaufman appears to be distracted by political matters, which could affect his handling of the case.

“He is losing track of his case because he keeps monitoring Philippine politics. He should do his best for his client, not for the political careers of his client's children,” she said.

The Palace issued the statement following Kaufman’s claim that the Philippine government is allegedly “helping the prosecution” in the ICC case against Duterte.

Kaufman also argued that the Marcos administration is not expected to assist the defense, saying that government support has been aligned with the prosecution even before Duterte came under ICC jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I has confirmed all charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte, moving the case forward to trial.

The chamber found reasonable grounds that Duterte bears responsibility for murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity, linked to his anti-drug campaign.

It also stated that the alleged crimes took place between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2016, during the “war on drugs,” which was described as part of a widespread and systematic attack against civilians in the Philippines.

NPO NEWS TEAM | PNA - PR