VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte on Saturday, Oct. 18, made a public appeal for the release of her father, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, expressing hope that he will be granted an “interim release” or, ideally, “total freedom” from his case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The vice president offered her prayers for her father during a visit to the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan.
VP Duterte specified that her prayers centered on two concerns: first, the continued good health of the former President, who is currently under detention at the ICC facility in The Hague, Netherlands; and second, the swift approval of his interim release or his complete acquittal.
The public plea follows the recent rejection by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I of the former President’s application for interim release, which his defense counsel submitted.
The court cited flight risk and the potential to obstruct proceedings as grounds for denying the request.
The former president, referred to as “FPRRD” by his supporters, is facing charges of crimes against humanity in connection with the anti-drug campaign during his tenure as President and previously as Mayor of Davao City.
Duterte and other family members have consistently questioned the ICC’s jurisdiction and the detention of the former chief executive since his surrender to the court in March.
The request for interim release had sought to allow the former president to await the confirmation of charges hearing outside the detention center on humanitarian and health grounds.
