No way to ‘bring him home’

By Herbert Vego

THERE is an obvious reason why former president Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsel — British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman — has been trying hard to stall his trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague for “crimes against humanity. My opinion is that he sees no chance of overturning the prosecution’s evidence.

Otherwise, Kaufman should have welcomed the trial that could have started with the confirmation of charges originally scheduled last September 23. Instead, he moved for his client’s interim release on the ground of physical and cognitive decline, thus unfit to stand trial.

As we all know now, the ICC has rejected Duterte’s appeal for interim release based on three grounds: (1) to ensure his appearance at trial; (2) to prevent him from obstructing the investigation, and (3) to stop potential commission of further crimes.

It was not surprising for the ICC to consider the former president “a flight risk,” knowing that his family does not recognize the Court’s authority and even calls his arrest “pure and simple kidnapping.”

The ICC finds “unbelievable” Kaufman’s claim that being “no longer in power,” Duterte could not be protected by the Philippine government.  In fact, even in his absence, he was elected Davao City mayor in May this year.  His son Sebastian, the vice-mayor, has stepped into his post.

He still holds the loyalty, even if undeserved, of 15 out of 24 senators who  voted to pass Resolution No. 144 asking the ICC to grant him “house arrest on humanitarian ground.”

The ICC pre-trial chamber noted, “On 19 July 2025, Mr. Duterte’s daughter [Vice President Sara] mentioned in public speeches the idea of breaking Mr. Duterte out of the ICC Detention Center.”

I predict that Kaufman’s consequent move appealing the ICC for reconsideration of its ruling will end in deaf ears, and more so because of the “jailbreak” threat of Vice President Sara.

As if that were not bad enough, her brother, Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, reacted to the ruling by dragging the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to his father’s “kidnapping.”

He vented his ire with this statement: “To all kidnappers of my father, I will make sure that you will pay for this crime that you have committed!”

How ironic, since it is his father who is paying for alleged crimes that included extra-judicial killings during his terms as mayor of Davao City and as president of the Philippines.

It is apparent that the Dutertes will do everything to delay or stop his trial at The Hague. This could end Sara’s ambition to run for president in 2028, mainly because it would open the family to criminal and civil suits for monetary damages.

On the other hand, at his age of 80, he could die in prison and be saved from a likely judgment of conviction.

So, sige lang, sige lang, they would keep up with Kaufman’s professional pay of US $2.5 million per month kuno.

-oOo-

A PRIME QUESTION ANSWERED

MY friend Alan Vidal asked me whether Primelectric and PrimeWater are “related”.  Probably “cousins”?

In the same way that oil and water do not mix, that pun is misleading.  The two companies are not as connected as electricity and water.

Primelectric Holdings, Inc. owns three power distribution utilities: MORE Power in Iloilo City,  Negros Power in Bacolod City, and Bohol Light in Tagbilaran, Bohol, with Roel Z. Castro as common president and chief executive officer. The company focuses on modernizing power infrastructure across the Visayas region.

Primelectric and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power have signed a joint study agreement to explore renewable energy and energy storage projects in the region.

PrimeWater, on the other hand, is a water utility company that has partnered with Metro Pacific Water and some local water districts.