PROFILE: Duterte's ICC defense team

Nicholas Kaufman

Kaufman is an accredited lawyer of the ICC.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Kaufman touts himself as "one of the leading advocates specializing in international criminal law, supra-national regulatory law and commercial arbitration."

He previously served as a prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, during which he represented and advised high-profile businessmen, politicians, and government officials.

Kaufman specializes in International Regulatory Law, European Union Regulatory Law, International Criminal Law, International Human Rights Law, International Reputation Management, and State-Investor Arbitration.

In the past, he served as the legal counsel of former Central African Republic’s militia leader Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka before the ICC.

He also counseled former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's daughter Aisha, who sought an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her father's death at the international tribunal.

Kaufman attained his degree in law at the University of Cambridge in 1989 and studied at the Inns of Court School of Law in 1991.

Salvador Medialdea

Before he became the executive secretary at the start of Duterte's term in 2016, Medialdea built his career as a lawyer and later, a business executive and government administrator.

Medialdea and Duterte have been close friends since childhood as a result of their fathers working together during Vicente Duterte’s term as Davao governor. 

After receiving his BS Commerce Major in Management from Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1972 and his law degree from San Beda College of Law in 1976, Medialdea kickstarted his legal career as a senior associate at the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices.

He then worked for Pecabar Law Offices—the law firm of Juan Ponce Enrile and Rene Cayetano—before he finally established his own law firm, the Medialdea Ata Bello Guevarra Suarez Law Firm.

Later on, Medialdea became the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines from 1985 to 1987 and was its director from 1983 to 1985.

It was in 1998 when Medialdea began to take an interest in a government career after he was invited by then-president Joseph Estrada to become the Administrator of the Livelihood Corporation. He held the position for a year before being appointed Presidential Assistant for Political Affairs in 2000.

Duterte designated the former executive secretary, who's not an ICC-accredited lawyer, as one of his counsels in proceedings via a handwritten power of attorney document on March 14.

Harry Roque

Along with Kaufman, Roque is also an accredited member of the ICC.

A graduate of law from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Roque started what would eventually be a prolific legal career when he founded the advocacy group Center for International Law and represented victims from high-profile cases together with his team.

Among these are the 2009 Ampatuan massacre, the Malaya Lolas who have been victimized by the Japanese Imperial Army, Jennifer Laude, and environmental advocate Gerry Ortega.

After resigning as a member of his advocacy group, Roque entered politics and became a congressman in the 17th Congress. Duterte eventually appointed him as presidential spokesperson from 2017 to 2018 and from 2020 to 2021.

He ultimately resigned from the position to run for senator in the 2022 elections but lost after finishing in 17th place.

Roque is entangled in legal proceedings concerning his supposed link to the now-banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations hub, Lucky South 99 Corp. Investigations revealed that he was a legal counsel for Whirlwind Corp., a real estate firm that leased land to Lucky South 99.

He has since denied the "baseless accusations" made against him by law enforcement agencies.

Duterte's arrest

Duterte was arrested on March 11 and was brought to the Villamor Air Base upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong.

He is accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Roman Statute."

Specifically, he is allegedly involved in the murder of at least 19 persons reported to be drug pushers or thieves who were killed by members of the Davao Death Squad in various locations in or around Davao City between 2011 and 2016, as well as the murder of at least 24 alleged criminals who were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines law enforcement at various locations in the country between 2016 and 2019.

On March 14, the controversial ex-leader attended his first hearing through a video link where he was informed of his alleged crimes against humanity and his rights as a defendant.

His next appearance is set for Sept. 23 for the next stage of the process, a hearing to confirm the charges.

Duterte could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC. 

At the confirmation of charges hearing, the judges will decide whether the prosecution has presented enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

If the charges are confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.