Footage of Duterte’s cell sought

MANILA, Philippines — In what could be his last bid to secure the release of former president Rodrigo Duterte, defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman is seeking access to surveillance footage at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Detention Center to prove his client’s supposed deteriorating condition.

Prior to his request for leave to withdraw as lead defense counsel on Friday, Kaufman filed his observations regarding Duterte’s detention before the ICC Trial Chamber III.

The trial judges earlier directed parties to submit observations ahead of the status conference scheduled on May 27.

In his filing, Kaufman said Duterte, 81, is under 24/7 surveillance, supposedly due to an “increased fall risk due to age and several chronic physical ailments.”

“Given the continual video-surveillance to which Mr. Duterte is subject, there is good reason to believe that the frequency and nature of such incidents have either been captured on camera or observed and documented by guards on duty,” Kaufman said.