Like a poem, he repeats, 'bring him home'

On the last day of the International Criminal Court’s confirmation of charges hearing against Rodrigo Duterte Friday evening, his lead legal counsel Nicholas Kaufman echoed his call for the return of the former to the Philippines. 

During the defense’s closing statements, Kaufman narrated the discussions he had with Duterte as after visiting him last 25 February at the international court’s detention centre as no hearings were scheduled on that day. 

Kaufman highlighted that the 81-year-old admitted that age plays a factor on his memory– making it difficult for him to remember details linked to his charges which are crimes against humanity linked to his ‘War on drugs’ campaign during his tenure as both Davao City mayor and Philippine president. 

He recalled Duterte’s words—“Mr. Kaufman, Nick, I have done my duty and I have left my legacy. Go to court and do your job, but I can no longer help you. I no longer remember much at all, and I can't comment on people who I do not know, and on statistics that mean nothing to me,” 

Duterte even added that he was a “faithful servant of the people,” and accepted that he could meet death inside prison. 

Upon hearing those words from his client, Kaufman and his team tried to brush it off by giving encouragement to the former president. 

“We remind him of the mountain of cards and greetings, and of the forest of flowers that he received, both at the detention center and at the court's premises, on his 80th birthday,” he stated. 

“So many cards, all of which were read by his family, that we had to provide two sacks to take them back to our office. So many bouquets of flowers that the prison had to bring a van to take them away,” he furthered. 

The Israeli lawyer also mentioned Duterte’s children– Kitty, who regularly writes letters for her father; Sara, who is warmly welcomed by the tight-knit DDS community, and showed him photos of Baste and Pulong who attend civic events in their bailiwick, Davao. 

According to Kaufman, as soon as the team cited his family, Duterte’s face lit up. 

The iconic blue suit 

Kaufman also disclosed that if Duterte was able to attend the confirmation of charges hearing, he would have worn a barong they prepared for him. 

“We even had a barong specially fitted for him so that he would not have to suffer the humiliation of being put into an out-of-size blue suit which would now dwarf his meagre physical body,” he said. 

The infamous blue suit, which Duterte wore during his initial appearance before the ICC last 16 March 2025, serves as the public’s latest photo update on the former president. 

Upon the end of his account, Kaufman told that if the former president should be faulted for anything, it will be for his “inappropriate choice of language,” and argued that he “murdered no one,” 

“I ask you, I beg you, not to confirm any of the charges. I ask you to let Rodrigo Duterte return to the Philippines, not to govern, but simply to let him live out the rest of his days in peace, in his humble dwelling in Davao,” Kaufman emotionally expressed.