VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte stated on Sunday, Sept. 21, that while former President Rodrigo Duterte wants to return to the Philippines, he understands that an interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC) would likely not allow him to do so.
Speaking at a rally in Nagoya, Vice President Duterte explained that her father knows he must comply with the court’s rules and remain in a country designated by the ICC.
She said it is an accused person’s right to express their desire to go home, especially for someone like the former President.
“He wants to go home to the Philippines,” she said. “But he knows that he will not be able to return to the Philippines, and he understands that when he appears for his interim release, he will not be able to go home to the Philippines. He will have to go only where the court tells him to go.”
Also, Vice President Duterte directly addressed potential arguments from the ICC prosecutor against her father’s interim release, including the risk of his threatening witnesses or committing other crimes.
She dismissed these claims by citing his past behavior.
She recalled the 2012 investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) under then-Chairperson Leila de Lima and the 2017 Senate hearings initiated by Senator Antonio Trillanes.
“He never threatened or harassed witnesses,” she said. “In fact, when Senator Trillanes was confusing his witnesses, what did former President Duterte say? He just said, ‘Let them be. Let them investigate. Go on, what do you want to ask?’ He does not have that kind of character or behavior.
He did not do that when he was President. Why would he do it now, when he has trouble walking?”
She also rejected the argument that her father might commit more crimes. “The prosecution cannot claim this because he is no longer the mayor of Davao City,” she said, adding that it would be unjust for the people of Davao City to have their former mayor incarcerated far away.
The Vice President concluded that the ICC has no valid basis to deny her father’s interim release, as he is neither a flight risk nor a threat to witnesses, and has no disposition to commit more crimes.
