Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday called for the interim release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, Netherlands, amid its ongoing investigation into his administration’s controversial war on drugs.
Speaking before a crowd of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and supporters during a “Free Duterte Now” rally in South Korea on July 27, the vice president defended her father’s conduct while in office and accused the ICC of politically motivated actions.
“Dalawa po ang tinatanong at hinihingi ng mga abogado ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa korte: Una na ang interim release o ’yung pakawalan ka habang tumutuloy ang kaso... Kaya, ibigay. Hinihingi natin na ibigay niya na ’yan. Hindi naman ’yan tatakbo. 80 years old, may mga sakit. Ang gusto lang niya umuwi ng Davao City,” VP Duterte said.
"Ibigay na nila ’yung interim release. ’Yan ang pakiusap sa ICC. Ibigay din ang interim release. At ’yan din ang rason kung bakit tayo nagsama-sama, nagpapakita ng suporta at sumisigaw na ‘Bring him home.’ Meron tayong ‘Free Duterte Now’ rally. I-release na ninyo ’yan. Hindi ’yan tatakbo,” she added.
The Vice President emphasized her father’s cooperation with the ICC, asserting he has never obstructed any investigation — even allowing international investigators into the Philippines after his term ended.
She also addressed questions about her father's health and current condition, assuring the public he is stable despite his age and ailments.
“Okay lang siya, pinapaabot niya sa inyong lahat na huwag kayong mag-alala dahil wala naman siyang nararamdaman sa kanyang kalusugan. May edad na siya, may mga sakit na siya, oo, pero walang emergency na nararamdaman siya sa kanyang kalusugan,” the Vice President said.
Vice President Duterte also slammed concerns that her father might evade proceedings if released.
"Wala akong intensyon na lumayas. Nasa Hong Kong na ako. Pwede na akong mawala. Pero ano ang sinabi ko? Uuwi ako sa Pilipinas. At yun lang din ang sinasabi niya hanggang ngayon," the vice president stated.
“Wala siyang sinasabi, magtatago ako sa Africa, magtatago ako sa Antarctica. Wala siyang sinasabing ganon. Sinasabi lang niya, gusto kong umuwi ng Pilipinas. Gusto kong bumalik ng Davao City. Ibig sabihin, sa ICC kapag hinanap niyo ’yan, alam niyo kung saan hahanapin ’yan. Ganyan lang ’yan. Sa Davao City. Hindi ’yan lalayas,” she declared.
She also dismissed claims that her father had threatened or harmed witnesses in the ICC investigation, referencing controversial figures like Arturo Lascañas, Edgar Matobato, and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
“Alam ni dating Pangulong Duterte kung sino ang mga witnesses... Mayroon ba siyang ginawa kay Lascañas o kay Matobato o kay Trillanes man? Wala. Buhay na buhay si Trillanes pero ang kanyang buhok hindi ko lang sigurado,” she quipped.
“Ang tagal na nung mga witnesses na nandyan, walang nangyari sa kanila. Hindi pa siya naging pangulo, hindi na siya naging pangulo, nandyan pa rin ’yung witnesses na sinasabi nila,” the Vice President added.
In her closing remarks, VP Duterte urged the public to remain vocal in pressuring the ICC and the Philippine government to act in the interest of national dignity and justice.
“Okay. So interim release, jurisdiction sa ICC. Sa bayan natin, huwag nating tigilan ang paghingi sa pamahalaan ng karapat-dapat para sa taong bayan at sa ating bansa. Mga kababayan, ang lahat ng ginagawa natin ay para sa Diyos, sa bayan, at sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” she said.
The former president has been detained for over 100 days at the ICC detention unit in The Hague as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged crimes against humanity related to his anti-drug campaign.
Human rights groups have long accused the Duterte administration of extrajudicial killings (EJK) and systematic abuses, while supporters argue that the campaign was a necessary step to curb rampant drug-related crime in the country.
The former President, who left office in 2022, has denied any wrongdoing in connection to the drug war.
However, the ICC has continued to pursue the investigation, despite the Philippine government’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019.
