Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Dad Rodrigo’s Interim Release Bid to ICC
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President cited the age of her 80-year-old father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in his interim release bid to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands for more than three (3) months now. He is faced with an allegation of crimes against humanity before the ICC due to his administration’s war on drugs.
The confirmation of charges against the former President is scheduled on September 23. Recently, it was confirmed that Duterte’s lawyers requested for his interim release to an undisclosed country. His ICC legal team includes British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman who is the lead counsel of the former President.
Amid the country that is allegedly willing to take in Duterte during his interim release not named, there are speculations that it is probably a nation adjacent to The Hague. The foreign court may only allow interim release on countries that are state parties to the Roman Statute.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte spoke on the interim release bid of her father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, before the ICC. The Vice President is now back in the Philippines from a PH Independence Day celebration with the Filipino community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte cited the age of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and claimed that not all his needs can be provided inside the ICC detention facility in The Hague. The former President celebrated his 80th birthday last March 28 inside the ICC detention facility.
“For me, it will be beneficial for him as he is already 80 years old. Not all his needs as an 80-year-old can be provided inside the ICC detention unit,” the Vice President said.
Based on the report, the camp of Duterte submitted a 16-page request to the International Criminal Court as a bid for the interim release of the former President. According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, her father is the first ICC detainee who is 80 years old already.
“He is the first ICC detainee with such age. He is not only a senior, he can be called super senior since he is 80 years old. It is better to allow his interim release so that available nurses and caregivers will be available to assist him,” she said.
Amid his detention in The Hague, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte won mayor of Davao City. However, the Department of Interior and Local Government or DILG previously clarified that there won’t be “Work from Hague” for Duterte after winning as mayor.