office of the vice president

THE CAMP of former President Rodrigo Duterte has reportedly found a country willing to accept him for his interim release, according to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. 

The announcement came during her speech to Filipino overseas workers in Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday, September 21.

“It took a while, but we finally found a country that said they will accept him,” Vice President Duterte stated, though she did not specify which country it was.

“Medyo tumagal lang kami dahil nahirapan pa rin kami humanap ng isang bansa na tatanggap sa kanya. At dahil wala akong pinagkakatiwalaan sa Pilipinas noon na kausapin ko patungkol sa interim release. So ang ginawa ko, kinausap ko yung mga nakilala ko sa ibang bansa dahil yun sa trabaho ko,” she said.

“Meron ako mga nakasama, nakilala noon sa pag-ikot ko sa Southeast Asia dahil sa Department of Education at dahil sa trabaho ko sa Office of the Vice President. So, kailangan ko pa sila kausapin at kailangan ko pa sila paintindihin kung bakit kailangan namin — ng pamilya namin ang tulong nila. Kaya medyo tumagal kami pero nakahanap din kami ng isang bansa na nagsabing tatanggapin namin siya,” she added.

The announcement follows the International Criminal Court (ICC) postponing Duterte’s scheduled confirmation of charges.

 His legal counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, requested the postponement for a medical examination, claiming Duterte is “unfit” to face the proceedings. 

The Office of the Prosecutor opposed the request, citing the Duterte family’s refusal to acknowledge the ICC as a legitimate court and their threats to help him escape.

Legal and humanitarian appeals

In an interview at Nagoya, Japan, the Vice President provided a detailed update on her father’s legal strategy, explaining the two main motions filed by his lawyer in the ICC. 

The first motion questioned the ICC’s jurisdiction, arguing that the court began its investigation two years after the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, exceeding the one-year grace period.

The second motion was for an “interim release” before a trial begins. Vice President Duterte directly addressed the ICC prosecutor’s concern that her father would be a flight risk if released.

 She recounted a specific incident in Hong Kong where her father had the chance to flee but chose to return to the Philippines.

“He wants to go home because he wants to die in the Philippines. That is his will,” she said, recounting his decision to take an early morning flight back to Davao City instead of staying in Hong Kong. “He has no intention of hiding in Africa, Antarctica, Alaska, or wherever. He just wants to go home to Davao City.”

Vice President Duterte also made a humanitarian appeal, arguing that the ICC should show compassion for an 80-year-old man who is “sick.”

“We are sure that you knew the 80-year-old person you took was sick,” she said. “We can see that he can no longer walk. He is being carried by four people. He was pushed up the airplane. So we are sure you know that the person you took is sick. If you are for human rights, you need to be humanitarian in your decision on his interim release.”

She added that her father requires a caregiver and cannot be left alone, emphasizing that his loved ones—including her sister Kitty—manage his day-to-day needs. The Vice President, however, said her own role is “just politics and gossip… and his love life.”

Photo courtesy of OVP Facebook page