Vice President Sara Duterte said her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, might never come back to the Philippines. She accused the Marcos administration of ensuring that he remains in The Hague.
When asked about Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s disappointment over National Security Adviser Eduardo Año’s role in Duterte’s arrest, she said she had no feelings about it. “I’m not angry or disappointed. There’s no point in holding on to emotions. He can’t return, so we should just move forward as a country,” she said in a press conference.
She also said that being angry at the Marcos administration was useless because they do not listen. “No matter how mad we get, nothing will change. They are not being held accountable,” she added.
Sara Duterte warned that losing a former president is serious. “I pray we do not lose our country next,” she said.
Rumors of a Traitor
Duterte addressed rumors that someone from their group in Hong Kong leaked information about their plans before her father’s return. She said whoever is talking about a “traitor” might be the one who spoke to an insider.
She clarified that her father chose to return to the Philippines and did not plan to hide. However, he was immediately sent to The Hague instead of facing a local court.
Illegal Arrest?
During a Senate hearing, Duterte called her father’s arrest an “illegal act” and “extraordinary rendition.” She said the ICC warrant was invalid because it was not reviewed by a Philippine court. She claimed that the Marcos government violated the law by allowing his arrest.
Sara Duterte’s Plans
Duterte said she would return to the Philippines soon but is now focused on forming a legal team for her father. “I have no plans to stay here for long. I have my duties as Vice President,” she said.
She revealed that ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman and other experts are working on ways to free her father. The next court hearing will happen in six months.
Case Against Duterte is Fake?
Duterte dismissed the charges against her father, calling them a “fabrication” by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV. She questioned why the ICC prosecutor could not name at least 100 victims of her father’s drug war.
She insisted that the numbers of victims were exaggerated. “Maybe these include fake victims. This is just a made-up case,” she said.
