Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Visits Dad Rodrigo at The Hague Detention Facility

SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President revealed that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wants her to immediately come home to the Philippines.

Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently appeared before the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC (International Criminal Court) in The Hague. He had a remote appearance through a video link while he was staying at a detention center in Scheveningen.

Duterte tapped his former executive secretary, Attorney Salvador Medialdea, to be his legal counsel at the initial hearing. His daughter, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, is also in The Hague right now and has already talked to her father personally after the unexpected turn of events on Monday.

Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested by the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) upon his arrival from Hong Kong on Monday. He was detained for several hours but was “forced” to exit the Philippines on the same day to Dubai en route for the Netherlands.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Nicolas Torre III claimed that the former President’s partner, Honeylet Avanceña, allegedly refused to go with Duterte to The Hague which caused the delay of the flight. According to the official, they had to change the manifest so the flight can push through.

On Tuesday, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte left the Philippines early morning to visit former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in The Hague. Recently, the Vice President who was spotted outside the International Criminal Court confirmed that she was able to see her dad during a one-hour visit and talked to him.

Based on a report on GMA News, Vice Pres. Duterte said she told FPRRD that he looked well-rested. According to him, he slept and watch television. She revealed that her father’s only complaint is that he misses Filipino food, particularly inun-unan which is the Visayan equivalent of paksiw.

”As a request he asked me to go home. He repeatedly said, ‘Do not leave the country. Do not leave the Philippines.’ I told him I know I understand,” the Vice President said.

Based on the report, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte further revealed that he told former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte that she also does not want to be there but “unfortunately” she is the only one among them who has a Schengen visa and is a lawyer.

”I told him I just have to form that legal team, then I can work remotely in the Philippines talking to the legal team and just need a next of kin to come here. Everyone’s applying for a visa right now,” the younger Duterte said.

Reportedly, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte remains a candidate for Davao City Mayor despite his ICC arrest. His children, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte and Veronica “Kitty” Duterte have filed separate petitions asking the Supreme Court to order the return of their father to the Philippines.