FPRRD tells Roque to stop interfering in case before ICC

Former President Rodrigo Duterte wants former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to stop interfering in his crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court (ICC), fearing that the former human rights lawyer may be jeopardizing his defense.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

This was revealed by Duterte's lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman during an interview with pro-Duterte blogger Alvin and Tourism. A transcript of the interview was made available to the media on July 30.

"As it is, neither the former President, nor anyone else in his immediate vicinity, is interested in Harry Roque as a lawyer," he said.

"The former President has made it known that Roque should stop interfering in his case and return to the Philippines to sort out his own troubling legal issues," he added, referring to a standing warrant of arrest issued against Roque for qualified human trafficking charges.

Kaufman called out Roque for pursuing his own legal action—a plan to sue the Dutch government for facilitating the extradition of the former president to The Hague—and possibly jeopardizing Duterte's release from detention.