It may look like asking for the moon but Vice President Sara Duterte would rather see her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, temporary released to his home city.
“Davao City, Philippines—whether it’s house arrest or even under strict ICC conditions,” she said.
The Duterte family has been lobbying for the former president’s return to the Philippines after he was detained and transferred to The Hague in March to face crimes against humanity charges linked to his anti-drug campaign.
The vice president noted that having him in Davao City, where he won as mayor in the 2025 elections, could encourage his cooperation with court hearings and the upcoming trial.
However, legal experts argue that an interim release to the Philippines is unlikely, given the country’s withdrawal from the ICC in 2019.
Meanwhile, FPRRD’s defense team continues to push for his temporary liberty.
ICC lawyer Maria Kristina Conti mentioned the Netherlands could serve as host should the court allow it.
A September 26, 2025 document from the ICC indicates that Pre-Trial Chamber I is in active communication with the Kingdom of the Netherlands regarding the interim release of the former president.
The record noted that Dutch authorities submitted their response to the ICC Registry on July 2, 2025.
Recently, the vice president revealed that another country has expressed willingness to host her father.
Earlier this month, the ICC indefinitely postponed Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing after his defense claimed he was unfit to stand trial.
