国際刑事裁判所（ICC）は5月8日、ドゥテルテ前大統領の弁護団からドブ・ジェイコブズ准弁護人の離脱を許可した。公判準備が進む中、主任弁護人のニコラス・カウフマン氏も離脱を要請している。
ハーグの第3公判廷はジェイコブズ氏の要請を承認し、主任弁護人や既存のチームが残留するため、ドゥテルテ氏の弁護活動に不利益は生じないと指摘した。フランス人弁護士であるジェイコブズ氏は、公判手続きに向けたドゥテルテ氏側の弁護団再編計画を理由に挙げている。
英国とイスラエルの国籍を持つカウフマン氏は、2026年3月31日に自身の契約が終了したことを受け、5月8日に辞任を申し出た。同氏は5月7日の面会時に、ドゥテルテ氏が新たな弁護人を雇用する意向を示したと裁判所に伝えている。ICCでの経験が豊富で即戦力となる後任の弁護人が、5月27日のステータス・カンファレンスから担当を引き継ぐ予定である。
ドゥテルテ氏は、自身の政権下で行われた麻薬撲滅運動に関連し、人道に対する罪で3つの訴因に直面している。次回のステータス・カンファレンスは公判段階の手続き開始を意味するものであり、関係当事者は証拠書類を提出することになる。
X（旧Twitter）上では、ドゥテルテ氏の裁判が敗訴必至と見られる中で弁護団が「沈みゆく船」から逃げ出しているという懐疑的な見方や、公判段階に向けた契約満了に伴う計画的な再編であるという中立的な意見、また手続きが遅延することを懸念する被害者代理人側の声などが上がっている。
NICHOLAS Kaufman, Dov Jacobs and their team of lawyers have withdrawn as counsels for Rodrigo Duterte, who faces crimes of humanity charges at the ICC. They are like rats jumping out of a sinking ship. Duterte is a lost cause. But they have earned a windfall from a sinking ship.
— Philip Lustre Jr. (@IpeLustre) 2026年5月8日
Nicholas Kaufman filed a request today to withdraw as Duterte's lead ICC counsel. His engagement formally ended on March 31, 2026. Duterte released him and is hiring a replacement (experienced at the ICC) for the trial phase, with a status conference set for May 27. This is a…
— Grok (@grok) 2026年5月8日
The withdrawal of Nicholas Kaufman and his team as Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC counsel is essentially a planned legal transition rather than a sudden conflict.
— Thea Tan (@imtheatan) 2026年5月9日
Kaufman’s one-year engagement officially ended on March 31, 2026.
Duterte is restructuring his defense team specifically for… pic.twitter.com/vOwqfX1TLO
'VICTIMS WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT THE CHANGE WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY DELAY.'
— GMA News (@gmanews) 2026年5月8日
READ: International Criminal Court (ICC) assistant to counsel Kristina Conti statement following Nicholas Kaufman's request to withdraw as lead counsel of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Read related… pic.twitter.com/HxcunJB1xL
KAUFMAN OUT.
— TAGAPAGMULAT 🇵🇭✊ (@tagapagmulat) 2026年5月8日
JUST IN: Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has moved to withdraw as counsel for Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court.
According to the filing, it was Duterte himself who decided to replace Kaufman. pic.twitter.com/4kd9OTUyya
AIによるレポート AIによって生成された画像
The International Criminal Court has set the confirmation of charges hearing against former president Rodrigo Duterte for February 23, after denying his appeal on fitness to participate. The hearing will take place in The Hague, Netherlands, following his arrest one year ago in Manila. The process includes lawyers representing drug war victims.
The International Criminal Court's pre-trial chamber has rejected former president Rodrigo Duterte's legal team's request to disqualify Filipino lawyers representing extrajudicial killing victims. The decision was issued on Friday ahead of the confirmation of charges hearing starting Monday. Duterte will not attend the proceedings.
AIによるレポート
The victims' legal team in Rodrigo Duterte's International Criminal Court case remains intact after the lead defense lawyer withdrew his challenge. Meanwhile, the prosecution has questioned the composition of Duterte's defense 'team'.
A trial chamber of the International Criminal Court will review former President Rodrigo Duterte's continued detention in The Hague. It has requested observations from the prosecution, defense, and victims' lawyers. This marks the first such review at the trial stage of his crimes against humanity case.
AIによるレポート
The first day of the confirmation of charges hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte began at the International Criminal Court on February 23, 2026, in The Hague, Netherlands. Duterte did not attend after waiving his right to appear, though judges deemed him fit to participate. Prosecutors presented evidence on the Davao Death Squad and Duterte's statements.
The International Criminal Court's Appeals Chamber has rejected former president Rodrigo Duterte's appeal for interim release, upholding a prior decision to keep him detained. The ICC found no error in the Pre-Trial Chamber's dismissal of a medical report on his health. Duterte remains at the ICC detention center in the Netherlands as proceedings continue.
AIによるレポート
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has not ruled to allow former President Rodrigo Duterte to return to the Philippines while wearing a location tracker, according to a Rappler fact-check. Duterte remains at the ICC detention center in The Hague awaiting a pre-trial hearing from February 23 to 27, 2026. Prosecutors are urging him to attend, stating his health arguments have been settled.