Vice President Sara Duterte announced she is assembling a legal team with International Criminal Court (ICC) experience to represent her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in his ICC case, ruling out former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque as members.

Speaking to reporters outside the ICC detention center in The Hague, the Netherlands, Duterte said she was in the process of interviewing candidates to join lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman.

“Former President Duterte’s team will be led by attorney Nicholas Kaufman, and I still have some lawyers to talk to. Another lawyer is coming, and I’ll interview him to join the team. Once the ICC team is finalized, attorney Medialdea will withdraw because there are limited slots for lawyers, and we want all the lawyers to have ICC experience,” Duterte explained.

Medialdea appeared before the ICC pre-trial chamber when Duterte made his initial appearance via video link on 14 March.

As for Roque, who is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, Duterte confirmed he will not be part of her father’s defense team.

“It hasn’t been established what the basis is for his stay in the Netherlands, and we don’t want complications,” she said. “We want the lawyers to focus solely on the case. I heard he’s applying for asylum, so we want him to focus on that while our lawyers focus on the case.”

Kaufman, in a prior interview, expressed confidence of securing an early acquittal for the former president.

“I’m very confident in the strongest defense possible, and I’m confident he will be acquitted, possibly even at the earliest stage,” said the British-Israeli lawyer who the ICC accepted as Duterte’s lead counsel. He also criticized the manner of Duterte’s arrest last week, stating that his rights were violated in the Philippines and that they would be filing the necessary applications in due course.

Tatay Digong in high spirits

Despite his detention in the hospital wing of the ICC facility, Duterte said her father, popularly known as “Tatay Digong,” remained in high spirits.

“He’s charming everyone inside. He’s very friendly, and they have a lot of banter. He told me it felt like he was in a hotel, except he couldn’t go outside,” the Vice President said.

Ms. Duterte had requested for a five-day daily visit to her father but was granted only a single day.

She explained that the former president approves visitors through an online application system. “It’s online. I submit the request to him and he responds. He decides who can visit, and I try to limit that,” she added.

The Vice President said her father is now able to eat rice and regular dishes. Supporters can send him letters at The Hague, but these will be read by the jail staff before being handed over him, she said.

She said the former president has advised his children not to visit him unless they are prepared to stay in the cell with him.

The Vice President said her father is not withdrawing from the mayoralty race in Davao City despite his arrest.

Senator Robin Padilla, who accompanied Ms. Duterte to the ICC facility, was not allowed to see the former president. He spent his time engaging with supporters and speaking to the media gathered outside the detention center.

On Tuesday, Padilla went live on social media, featuring the Filipinos who had come to support the former president, as well as the long walk he took to his hotel after a power outage halted tram operations.

Outpouring of support

Following his arrest last week, Duterte has been receiving an overwhelming wave of support from various sectors, both in the Philippines and internationally. The outpouring of support underscored the lasting impact of his presidency.

A growing number of individuals and organizations from around the world have rallied behind the former leader. overseas Filipino workers have been vocal in their support, expressing admiration for Duterte’s tough stance on crime and his efforts to improve security in the country.

Back home and overseas, Duterte’s supporters have taken to the streets in solidarity, holding prayer rallies and other peaceful demonstrations. Many believe his controversial war on drugs played a significant role in reducing crime and enhancing public safety during his time in office.