Former President Rodrigo Duterte spent Christmas at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in The Hague away from home and most of his family, according to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
The vice president said Christmas Day passed normally for the former president, noting that her sister, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, was able to visit him at the detention center.
“Okay lang naman yung Christmas niya kahapon, December 24. Nandoon si Kitty, yung kapatid namin, at siya ang nagbisita, kanina din pinakita ko yung video call ni Kitty para masabi niya sa inyo kung ano yung message ni dating Pangulo Rodrigo Duterte ngayong Pasko,” the vice president told the media.
She clarified that she did not have a video call with her father during Christmas, explaining that video calls are not allowed inside the ICC detention facility and that detainees are limited to telephone calls.
The vice president also said they have not spoken yet during the Christmas period.
“Bawal ang video call. So, pwede lang kami mag-telephone call. Pero hindi pa kami nagkausap ngayong Christmas,” she said.
Asked about her recent visit to The Hague, Duterte said she spent several days there and was able to talk extensively with her father.
The vice president said they were given the opportunity to speak one-on-one for about an hour and a half each day, adding that while it was sad to see the former president in detention, she was grateful for the time they were able to spend together.
Last month, the ICC Appeals Chamber rejected FPRRD’s bid for interim release, upholding an earlier ruling by Pre-Trial Chamber I.
Presiding Judge Luz del Carmen Ibañez Carranza said the defense failed to show any error in the finding that the former president poses a flight risk.
The Appeals Chamber unanimously dismissed all three grounds raised by the defense, including claims on legal error, proposed guarantees, and humanitarian considerations.
In its Oct. 10 decision, the pre-trial chamber cited the Duterte family’s rejection of his arrest, calls for his return to the Philippines, and his reported desire to go back to Davao City as indications of a risk of evading detention and prosecution.
