Vice President Sara Duterte has returned to the Philippines on Thursday after spending her birthday weekend in the Hague where her father — former President Rodrigo Duterte — continues to be detained over charges of crimes against humanity.
The Office of the Vice President said Duterte arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 7:40 p.m.
“The Vice President is expected to address relevant matters in the coming days,” Duterte’s office said in a statement.
Her arrival comes a week before the Senate votes on whether or not they should convene as an impeachment court in July to hear ouster charges against the Vice President that were filed under the previous Congress.
Under the law, the 19th Congress — which impeached Duterte in early 2025 — ends on June 11, while the 20th Congress — which will be composed of a new set of lawmakers both in the House and in the Senate — will start on the 4th Monday of July.
“Kinukuwestyon din namin yung pagcross over from the 19th to the 20th Congress dahil ang composition ng House of Representatives,” Duterte told reporters in the Netherlands before her return flight to the Philippines.
“‘Yung lawyers ko na lang ang magsalita dahil papagalitan na naman ako ng lawyers ko,” she said.
Honeylet Avanceña — former President Rodrigo Duterte’s common-law partner — is also expected to arrive in the Hague on Thursday.
Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, the former president’s eldest son, is also expected to fly to the Netherlands with his family to serve as their patriarch’s next of kin there.
The Duterte family members have been taking turns in traveling to the Hague to ensure that a next of kin will always be in town to visit their patriarch as often as officials would allow.
Former President Duterte has been detained in the Hague since mid-March for charges of crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s deadly crackdown on illegal drugs.
“The Vice President is expected to address relevant matters in the coming days,” Duterte’s office said in a statement.
