The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) is appealing to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to let former President Rodrigo Duterte return home.
In a statement, PDP emphasized that FPRRD deserves to return to the “land of his birth, to the country he once served, and to the people who share his blood and heritage.”
“Hindi ito usapin ng pulitika, kundi usapin ng pagkatao. Ang nakataya ay buhay at dangal ng isang kapwa natin Pilipino,” PDP said in a statement released on Thursday.
PDP appealed on the grounds of humanity and dignity, not politics, stating that the 80-year-old former president “only wish is to rest in the country he served”.
“Sa harap ng lahat ng pagsubok, isang bagay ang hindi maaaring itanggi — iisa ang ating lahi, iisa ang ating dugo, at iisa ang ating Inang Bayan. Kaya’t kami’y taos-pusong nananawagan sa inyo, mga kababayan: Tulungan ninyo kaming himukin si Pangulong Marcos Jr. na ibalik sa bansa ang isang dating pangulo at isang Pilipino na nagnanais lamang na mamahinga sa bansang kaniyang pinaglingkuran,” said Alfonso Cusi, PDP acting chairman.
Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, lead counsel of FPRRD, recently announced that former president’s hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC), originally set for September 23, has been postponed indefinitely, this after Kaufman successfully argued that Duterte’s health has deteriorated, making him unfit to stand trial.
Kaufman also recently revealed that he is seeking an audience with Marcos to negotiate the return of the former president to the Philippines.
