Pinoy among Rody's legal defense team

A Filipino lawyer will be among the five-member core defense team of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte, with his lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman currently interviewing candidates, Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, confirmed.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

"Yes. Because we need a Filipino lawyer who can argue regarding Philippine laws," the Vice President said in a chance interview with reporters Friday afternoon (Friday night in Manila) after visiting her father at his detention facility in The Hague.

She, however, noted that no Filipino lawyer has yet been chosen, and the lawyer is "likely" not accredited with the International Criminal Court. "But we'll see. It will depend on the ability of the lawyer," she said.

The Vice President refused to name the shortlisted candidates for the core defense team to prevent pre-empting the selection process.

"I will not give their names for now, to protect their privacy as they may be bombarded with questions. We will defer to Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, on whether he would want to introduce the members of the team," she said.

The five-member core defense team, which includes Kaufman, can choose to add more assistant lawyers, Sara added.

"It would still depend on the number of legal works to be done. But initially, there will be five," she said.

Due to her impending impeachment trial, as well as her duties as Vice President, Sara said she could not be part of her father's defense team.

Meanwhile, her father's former executive secretary, Salvador Medialdea, also had to step back due to health concerns.

About her meeting with her father inside the detention facility, the Vice President said they were not able to talk freely.

"I am not covered by the privilege of communication.

So, the guards are there listening to the conversation.

They are recording our conversation. So, we don't really discuss our defense (strategy).