Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday raised concerns over a statement attributed to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, which seemed to acknowledge extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during Duterte’s administration.
On social media, Lacson said, “If FPRRD’s (Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) defense counsel really said this, did he not just help the prosecution by confirming that EJKs were actually committed during his client’s presidency?”
Kaufman, speaking Thursday before the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I, argued that drug-related and extrajudicial killings continued even after Duterte left office.
“There is no reason to believe that Duterte’s disappearance from the political scene would have frustrated the ongoing incidents of murder at the hands of state agents or vigilantes,” he said, citing the University of the Philippines Diliman Third World Studies Center’s Project Dahas, which tracks drug-related killings.
Kaufman also questioned why the prosecution did not hold the current administration accountable: “Clearly, I’m forced to ask myself whether anyone on the other side of this room has thought of investigating the Marcos regime and the related phenomenon and holding someone accountable.”
Project Dahas reports at least 1,183 drug-related killings under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro responded, urging Kaufman to take legal action if he believes such killings occurred.
“Then lead the way with the filing of cases here. He should visit us here and file complaints regarding the things he saw if he’s interested,” she said.
The ICC proceedings continue Friday, with Duterte’s defense expected to present additional arguments before closing statements are delivered.