VP Sara not part of ex-Pres. Duterte's ICC legal team - Roque

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte will not be part of her father's legal team at the International Criminal Court (ICC), former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified.

In a short video on Facebook on Monday, Roque stated that the vice president cannot exercise her profession as a lawyer under the Constitution.

"Sa saligang batas natin, may pagbabawal sa pag-practice ng propesyon, so ang kanyang karapatang bumisita ay bilang anak," said Roque.

[Translation: Under our Constitution, there is a prohibition on practicing the profession, so her right to visit is as a daughter]

The vice president had previously told the media that she, Roque, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, and British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman would be Duterte’s legal team for his crimes against humanity case at the ICC.

Kaufman is registered with the ICC and will serve as the lead counsel for Duterte.

Under the ICC rules, only the lead counsel is required to be an accredited lawyer in the international tribunal, while this requirement may be relaxed for supporting counsels.

Duterte was arrested by the ICC in connection with charges of crimes against humanity, leading to what could be a prolonged legal battle.

The charges against Duterte involve allegations of murder as a crime against humanity, covering killings attributed to the so-called Davao Death Squad and those committed during his administration’s war on drugs while he was mayor of Davao City and later as president.

The accusations span from November 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019, when the Philippines exited from the Rome Statute at then-President Duterte’s request.