Rody’s counsel ‘twisting facts’ on interim release

The lead counsel of former president Rodrigo Duterte is “twisting” facts with his claim that the Marcos administration does not have any objection to his release from detention in The Hague where he is awaiting trial for crimes against humanity for the deaths of thousands in his so-called war on drugs.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro issued the clarification yesterday, as she accused Duterte’s lawyer Nicholas Kaufman of having “mastered the art of twisting some facts.”

She said the Marcos administration is not privy to developments in Duterte’s legal case before the International Criminal Court (ICC), particularly his request for interim release.

“He had done this action before when he asserted that the ICC prosecutor had no objection with former president Duterte’s request for interim release. However, after the ICC prosecutor filed an opposition, it was revealed to be his false allegation,” the Palace press officer said in a text message, referring to Kaufman.

Castro, nevertheless, said the administration would still respect whatever decision the ICC would make as part of the legal process.

She issued the statement after Kaufman told the ICC that the possibility of interim release for Durerte is “now contemplated without objection” by the Philippine government, which surrendered the former president to the tribunal.

Duterte’s counsel cited Castro’s remark at a press briefing last Wednesday in response to a query about Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that a third country had already agreed to host her father.