Vice President Sara Duterte revealed that former President Rodrigo Duterte shared his final wish with her during her visit to the detention facility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
According to the vice president, the former president expressed his desire to be cremated upon his passing.
“Nagbigay na siya ng kanyang huling habilin, sabi niya kung saan daw siya mamatay doon daw siya i-cremate. Sabi niya kung mamatay daw siya dito sa Netherlands, huwag na daw iuwi yung kanyang katawan sa Pilipinas at ipa-cremate lang daw siya dito at yung ashes na lang daw ang iuwi,” Vice President Duterte told members of the media and supporters of FPRRD outside the detention facility on Tuesday.
She said she asked her father to discuss the matter another time, as she personally opposes cremation. The former president, she added, jokingly warned her that he might haunt her if his wish isn’t fulfilled.
“Sabi ko, i-discuss na lang natin sa susunod kasi hindi ako pro-cremation tapos siya pro-cremation. Sabi ko sa kanya anong mangyayari nito kunwari hindi namin sundin yung habilin mo na i-cremate ka at ilibing ka namin doon sa tabi ng tatay mo? Babalik ka ba? Sabi niya hindi naman pero pag-isipan ko kung mumultohin kita o hindi,” she said.
The vice president reflected that it might be natural for someone at 80 years old to start thinking about such matters.
“Well, natural lang seguro yun sa 80 years old na mag-isip ng ganon. And mabuti na rin yun na alam nating lahat kung ano yung kanyang last wishes para magagawa yun pag nangyari. Ang objection ko lang hindi nga ako pro-cremation at ang takot ko lang din ay baka multohin niya ako pag hindi sinunod yung kanyang habilin na magpa-cremate,” she said.
On Monday, Vice President Duterte also gave an update on her father’s condition, noting that he had lost a significant amount of weight—but she said she actually prefers how he looks now.
“Okay lang siya. Very good mood today. Una niyang nasabi nung pumasok ako ay yung braso ko daw ay doble ng braso, dalawang braso daw niya ang braso ko. Pumayat siya ng sobra. Hindi nyo pa siya nakita na ganito ka payat. Ganito seguro siya kapayat nung binata pa siya. Laki ng pinayat niya. Kalahati na lang ng braso ko ang braso niya,” she shared.
Health-wise, she assured the public that the former president is doing well.
“Pero para sa akin, he looks good na payat siya kesa yung malaki ang tiyan tapos parang unhealthy tingnan and mukhang nakakatakot para sa kanyang heart so, I like him this way na medyo slim,” she said.
