The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed the appointment of Nicholas Kaufman as the legal counsel for former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. This was stated in a publicly released redacted version of the document titled “Notification of the Appointment of Mr. Nicholas Kaufman as Counsel for Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”
Nicholas Kaufman is a British-Israeli lawyer with extensive expertise in international criminal law. He earned his law degree from the University of Cambridge in 1989, an institution renowned for its excellence in legal education. As a seasoned lawyer, Kaufman previously served as a trial lawyer at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia before transitioning to the role of defense counsel at the ICC.
Throughout his career, Kaufman has handled high-profile cases in international criminal law. One of his notable clients was Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, former Vice President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leader of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC). Bemba was initially convicted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder and rape committed by his militia in the Central African Republic. However, after a decade of incarceration, Bemba was acquitted in 2018 when the ICC Appeals Chamber overturned his conviction.
In addition to Bemba, Kaufman also served as legal counsel for Maxime Mokom Gwaka, a suspected militia leader from the Central African Republic. Mokom was charged by the ICC with crimes such as murder, extermination, deportation, forcible transfer, imprisonment, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance, and attacks on civilians and religious buildings. However, on October 16, 2023, the ICC Prosecutor withdrew all charges against Mokom due to a lack of witnesses and sufficient evidence, resulting in his release on October 19, 2023.
For Duterte’s case, Kaufman will lead his legal team. The defense team also includes former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, both of whom have extensive experience in domestic and international legal matters. On March 14, 2025, Duterte appeared before the ICC for a pre-trial hearing via video link, with Medialdea representing him. Duterte is scheduled to appear before the court again on September 23, 2025, for the confirmation of charges hearing, where judges will decide whether to proceed with a trial.
According to Kaufman, Duterte is in good condition and is ready to face the cases against him. His legal team is expected to present a strong defense during the upcoming proceedings. Kaufman’s appointment highlights the importance of having an expert in international criminal law in such cases, and his vast experience offers hope for a fair and just trial.