Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and former Presidential Spokesperson Atty Harry Roque. King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo/George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File 

THE HAGUE -- Former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque will no longer be part of former president Rodrigo Duterte's defense team for his case in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This, according to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Vice President Duterte revealed the development on Tuesday, after making a second visit to her father at the ICC detention facility.

"Unang-una, his team is headed by Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, and then … meron pa akong mga kakausapin na mga lawyers 'no. Meron pang darating na isang abugado, i-interview ko siya para sumali sa team. And then, once maayos na yung team for ICC, magwi-withdraw si Atty. Medialdea kasi meron lang limited na mga slots for lawyers, and we want all the lawyers on board na merong ICC experience," said Duterte.

Medialdea appeared before the ICC Pre-Trial chamber when former president Duterte made his first appearance -- via videolink -- last Friday, March 14.

The vice president last week said that Kaufman, a British-Israeli lawyer, will be her father's lead counsel with Roque and Medialdea initially set to be supporting lawyers.

READ: Duterte assembles defense team with international law expert as lead counsel

Roque, who on Monday bared his plans to apply for asylum in the Netherlands, has not been nominated to be part of the former President's defense team as well.

"Hindi pa kasi na-establish kung ano yung basis ng pag-stay niya dito sa Netherlands and we don't want complications ba," Vice President Duterte said.

"Gusto namin nakatutok talaga yung lawyers doon sa kaso and right now he's, I heard, applying for asylum? He publicly announced that already, so we want him to focus on his asylum and then we want our lawyers to focus on the case," she added.

READ: Harry Roque to seek asylum in Netherlands

Kaufman, meanwhile, was officially appointed as lead counsel on Monday, March 17. He was able to visit former President Duterte in detention on Tuesday.

According to Kaufman, he is confident that the former President has a strong defense, including questions on his arrest.

"He was completely denied all his rights in the Philippines. That would obviously be a major argument in the course of his defense… I'm very confident of the strongest defense possible and I'm very confident that he will be acquitted indeed. Even at the earliest stage possible," said Kaufman.

Kaufman explained that they have a week to compose the defense team.

"We will be filing all necessary applications in due course, I'm not prepared to comment on the defense strategy at this moment in time," he added.

READ: Duterte's lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman promises 'strong defense', but mum on other details

Duterte, 79, faces allegations of crimes against humanity over his deadly war on drugs during his administration.

He made his first appearance at the ICC on Friday, doing so via videolink. He was informed of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant.

Before Duterte, Kaufman previously defended the likes of former Congo Vice President Jean Pierre Bemba and former Central African Republic (CAR) minister Maxime Mokom, who were also charged with crimes against humanity before the ICC.

'VERY FRIENDLY'

Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands on March 14, 2025. Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News

According to Vice President Duterte, the former president is still at the hospital wing of the detention facility, but is in high spirits and is getting along well with the personnel.

"Oh, I have to tell you he's charming everyone inside. He's very friendly with people inside so meron na silang banter eh, so may exchange na sila. Ang sinabi niya sa 'kin, para akong nasa hotel, except hindi ako makalabas," the vice president said.

The younger Duterte initially requested for a five-day daily visit since Friday, March 14, but was only granted a single day visit again.

Roque and PDP-Laban President Senator Robin Padilla have been attempting visits as well, but both have been unsuccessful as of March 18.

According to VP Sara, it is actually former President Duterte who approves the visitors. She will also attempt to request again for a daily visit until her last day in the Netherlands.

"It's online, it's online. So everytime na kailangan ko pumunta doon para magpaabot ng mensahe sa kanya pinapasok ko siya online, sinu-submit ko and then nagre-respond sila. And then, siya yung nagsasabi yes or no. So I try to limit kung sino yung pwedeng pumasok sa kanya, but apparently ang rules nila dito ay yung detainee ang magsasabi ng yes or no. You have to apply and then he'll say yes or no," she explained.

"Ang application ko last time was ano eh, Friday until Tuesday, ngayon. So I was given Tuesday, mag-submit na naman ako ng bago."

Meanwhile, the vice president also provided more details on Medialdea, who had to go to a local hospital after falling ill while visiting the former president.

"Nung pag-landing nila dito sa The Hague, nag-collapse na siya and dinala siya sa hospital. Kaso nag against medical advice siya, discharged. Dahil siya pa lang yung nag-iisang lawyer na pwedeng makipag-usap sa ICC… Lagi namin sinasabi na magpa-check-up. Ako kahapon, nagkita kami sabi ko diretso na tayo magpa-check-up and he refused," she said. 

READ: Medialdea falls ill while visiting Duterte at ICC detention center

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