Vice President Sara Duterte said her family is preparing for the possibility that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, may remain detained in The Hague, Netherlands, until Christmas, following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) rejection of his bid for interim release.
The ICC rejected last week FPRRD’s request for interim release, according to court documents made public.
The pre-Trial Chamber I, in a 23-page ruling, stated that Duterte’s continued detention “remains necessary” because there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person has committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the court, to ensure his appearance at trial, to ensure he does not obstruct or endanger the investigation or court proceedings, and to prevent him from continuing with the crime.
The vice president admitted they had already anticipated the possibility of a prolonged detention.
“Expected na talaga namin yun,” she said when asked if the family was preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Although she has not spoken to the former president recently, Duterte said her father communicates daily with his legal counsel and is aware of developments in his case.
“Hindi ko pa kasi siya nakakausap lately but nakakausap naman niya iyong abogado niya araw-araw so alam ko na meron siyang information na ganoon iyong mangyayari. Sa akin lang ngayon is hinahanda yung schedule ng pagbisita ng mga family members,” she said.
The vice president also confirmed that the family is ready to spend the holidays abroad.
“Naka on-deck na si Veronica, si Kitty para magpasko at mag New Year doon sa Hague magkikita si Veronica at si Mira,” she said.
When asked whether a formal manifestation from the Philippine government in favor of FPRRD’s release could influence the ICC’s decision, the vice president said she was unsure of its impact but expressed gratitude for the Senate resolution seeking humanitarian consideration.
“Hindi ko alam, kung hindi ko po masabi kung ano po yung kung positive ba yun para sa kaso ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kung ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas ang magsabi na i-release siya pabalik dito sa Pilipinas or kahit saan man,” she explained.
“Pero sa paniwala ko naman, umaabot lahat ng mga ginagawa ng Philippine government doon sa ICC. Tulad na lang, noong sabi ko, pagpapasalamat namin, pamilya sa Senate Resolution na nagsasabi na bigyan ng house arrest si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte for humanitarian considerations. At totoo din naman kasi talaga dahil this is a fragile and ailing 80-year-old man. Hindi niya gawa-gawa yung kanyang sakit. Nakikita talaga sa mga laboratory tests. Nakikita ng mga doctor,” she added.
However, Duterte was firm that she has no plans to reach out to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appeal for her father’s release.
“At trabaho niya yun in a sense na inaprubahan niya na hindi niya dapat ginawa bilang isang pangulo. Kung ano man yung problema ni — legal problem ni dating pangulong Duterte ngayon, ay problema na yun niya at syempre ng pamilya namin dahil ama namin siya. Pero for me, to go to him and request him on behalf of former President Duterte, no. Because there’s no going back sa ginawa nila na rendition,” she said.
When asked if the host country willing to accept Duterte under an interim release is in Europe, the vice president declined to give details.
She confirmed, however, that discussions remain ongoing regarding the possible host country.
