Vice President Sara Duterte at The Hague. Photo

Vice President Sara Duterte disclosed that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque will not be part ex- president Duterte’s defense team before the International Criminal Court (ICC.

While, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea is set to withdraw as counsel once the team is finalized.

The Vice President said they want to avoid complications since Roque’s basis for staying in the Netherlands is not clearly established.

“So far hindi siya [Atty. Roque] kasama sa legal team (He won’t be part of the legal team), Gusto namin nakatutok talaga yung lawyers doon sa kaso. Right now, he’s, I heard, applying for asylum. He publicly announced that already. We want him to focus on his asylum, and we want our lawyers to focus on the case,” VP Sara said in a brief media interview.

“Once na maayos na yung team for [the] ICC [case], magwi-withdraw si Atty. Medialdea kasi mayroon lang limited na mga slots for lawyers). And we want all the lawyers on board with ICC experience,” Sara added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Medialdea was seen leaving the Hague Penitentiary Institution on board an ambulance with the assistance of a medical team.

“After having received treatment at the hospital emergency room, Atty. Medialdea was brought to and is now in a regular hospital room,” the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands confirmed in a Facebook post.

Asked for his reaction, Roque said, “No comment.”

With the defense team still taking shape, Sara said British-Israeli lawyer Atty. Nicholas Kaufman will lead the legal counsel, and more lawyers with ICC expertise are expected to join.

Sara also said that the former president repeatedly told her to return to the Philippines.

“I am just here to assist President Duterte in the creation of the legal team. Kasi every time I go there to visit him, he tells me to go home to the Philippines,” Sara said.