Cebu, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team has the full backing of Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman said, dismissing calls to replace him amid the ongoing ICC trial.

In a statement sent to NewsWatch Plus, Kaufman criticized individuals whom, he said, have undermined his work from the start of the proceedings.

“I pay little attention to individuals who have been undermining my representation from day one and who have created an unnecessary storm in a teacup,” Kaufman said.

“These individuals have no clue as to how the ICC works nor as to the politics driving it. All that matters to me is that my team and I have the full support of the former President and the Vice-President,” he added.

Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that her father has no plans to replace his legal counsel. Speaking during a visit to the ICC detention center in The Hague, she said Duterte “won’t replace them,” though he did give instructions to the legal team that she declined to disclose.

Calls to replace Duterte’s counsel followed the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I’s rejection of the team’s request for an indefinite adjournment of proceedings, citing Duterte’s alleged cognitive impairment. A panel of three court-appointed medical experts found him fit to participate in the trial.

Kaufman said his team plans to challenge the ruling through a leave to appeal, arguing that the court denied Duterte due process by not allowing evidence submission or contesting the medical assessment.

Duterte has been in ICC custody since March 2025 over alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s war on drugs.