Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Relays Message of Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte amid his ICC Detention
RODRIGO DUTERTE – Vice President Sara Duterte said the former President wants the proceedings to move fast as he fears dying during his detention under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Former Pres. Duterte is now under a regular detention inside the ICC detention facility in The Hague. He was released from the hospital wing of the facility where he was monitored for several days. Prior to the transfer of the custody of the former President, Senator Bong Go stressed that Duterte has lots of sickness already.
During the arrest of the then-79-year-old former President in Manila, the Senator talked to the press about the health status of the former Chief Executive whom he said has a scheduled procedure. The doctor of the former President was also beside Sen. Go and they also brought an ambulance.
However, the arrest and the transfer of custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte proceeded. On the same day that the authorities of the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested him, he was flown to The Hague, Netherlands via Dubai.
Duterte has always been vocal that he will take accountability over the war on drugs of his administration. He has always reiterated that the police authorities were only following his orders and should not be punished for it. The former President is faced with an allegation of crimes against humanity before the ICC.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte made his initial appearance before the ICC pre-trial chamber remotely last March 15. The confirmation of his charges is scheduled on September 23. Duterte’s legal counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, is confident about their jurisdictional argument saying that if it works, there might be no need to get to the confirmation of charges stage.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte who is still in The Hague now as she sets the legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte spoke about her father. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Vice President revealed that former Pres. Duterte wants the proceedings against him to move fast as he fears dying during his ICC detention.
Based on the report, the Vice President also relayed the message of former Pres. Duterte. According to her, he wants his statement to be known to the world.
“Everything I did, I did for my country. (I don’t know) whether that statement is acceptable or not, but I want it out to the world,” the Vice President said referring to FPRRD’s statement.
Recently, at a Senate committee hearing on Duterte’s arrest, Sen. Bong Go stressed that Duterte is “harmless” now. According to him, the age of the former President was not considered when he was arrested and his custody was transferred to the foreign court.