Statement of Malacañang on Birthday of Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
Malacañang extended its birthday greeting for former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands.
Today, countless Filipinos have expressed their well wishes and prayers for former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte who is celebrating his 80th birthday today. However, unlike how he usually spends his birthday, Duterte is not in Davao but in The Hague, Netherlands.
Former Pres. Duterte is detained for more than a week now in The Hague under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Meanwhile, Duterte has likened his detention place into a “hotel”. He was released from the hospital wing of the Hague Penitentiary Institution and is now under a regular detention.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is also in The Hague, Netherlands for more than a week now. She immediately followed former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to Netherlands and she is currently setting the legal team of her father for his ICC trial.
Duterte’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter, Kitty Duterte, also recently arrived in The Hague for the birthday of the former President. However, it is still unclear if they have been allowed by the ICC to see the former President.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte released a heartfelt birthday greeting for former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. She thanked her father for teaching her the value of education. In a separate statement, the Vice President asked the Filipinos to continue praying for her father.
Malacañang also released a birthday greeting for former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Based on a report on GMA News, Palace press officer Atty. Claire Castro briefly sang a birthday song for the former President.
”Katulad po ng sinabi natin noong nakaraan, dapat lamang po nating batiin ng ‘Happy Birthday, ang dating Pangulong Duterte,” the Malacañang Press Officer said.
Based on the report, Castro further expressed the Palace’s wish for ‘more years to come, good health, and good fortune’ for former Pres. Duterte. According to the Press Officer of Malacañang, the former President needs it.
”And of course we wish more years to come, we also wish good health, good fortune, kailangan po niya ‘yan,” she said.
Unexpectedly, amid the controversy surrounding the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Senator Imee Marcos visibly support FPRRD. Sen. Imee Marcos also expressed her wish to visit former Pres. Duterte in The Hague and give her the P10,000-check as he celebrates his 80th birthday.