Vice President Sara Duterte raised questions on Tuesday over the alleged “welfare check” conducted by Philippine Embassy officials on her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague, Netherlands.
Duterte was referring to the statement from the officials from the Philippine Embassy in The Hague stating that the visit to the former president at the detention center of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was to conduct a welfare check.
The embassy clarified that the visit was in line with its functions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and relevant Philippine laws to protect the welfare of all Filipinos.
According to the vice president, the supposed visit took place shortly after FPRRD’s lawyer filed a motion for an indefinite adjournment of proceedings before the ICC.
She noted that the embassy’s report included an interview with the former president that appeared to go beyond its stated purpose.
“So, noong nag-file ang abogado ng indefinite adjournment noong proceedings, suddenly meron nang welfare check na ginawa ‘yung officials ng Embassy. At kung makikita mo doon sa report ini-interview nila si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte and somehow… meron silang mga insinuations doon na para bang sila ang nag-a-assess ng kanyang kalusugan,” she said.
She stressed that embassy officials have their own specific duties and that their visit should not be mistaken as an official welfare check, especially when it gives the impression of evaluating the former president’s condition.
The vice president underscored that the former president continues to face legal battles abroad, and the narrative surrounding his treatment must remain transparent and accurate.
The vice president on Saturday accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of cruelty and negligence after receiving reports that her father was found unconscious in his detention cell and subjected to medical tests.
Citing information from hospital sources, Duterte said the former president was discovered lying unconscious on the floor of his room and later underwent laboratory procedures.
She criticized the ICC for failing to inform the family and legal team about the incident, calling it a disturbing sign of the Court’s inability to safeguard his welfare.
The vice president shared that according to hospital sources, FPRRD was reportedly found unconscious in his room and later underwent lab tests.
She criticized the ICC for not informing FPRRD’s family and legal team, calling it a troubling sign of the Court’s failure to ensure his welfare.
