VP Sara Duterte Speaks on Legal Team of Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President announced that former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea are excluded from the legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was immediately transferred to the ICC (International Criminal Court) following his arrest last Monday. The former Chief Executive was arrested upon his arrival from Hong Kong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The ICC released an arrest warrant against Duterte over the accusations against his administration’s war on drugs. His admin’s campaign is linked to thousands of deaths.
The ICC probe did not sit well with Duterte. In 2019, during his term, he cancelled the membership of the Philippines to the ICC. However, the international court noted that there are allegations already when PH was still under the Rome Statute.
A day after former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested and sent to the Hague, Netherlands, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte flew abroad to support her father. Outside the ICC, she was spotted with former presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
The appearance of Roque shocked countless people as he was out from public sight since the House of Representatives cited him for contempt. According to the former presidential spokesman who is an ICC-accredited lawyer, he will be part of Duterte’s legal team.
Former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea who accompanied Duterte during his flight to Netherlands was the listed legal counsel of the former President in his ICC trial. He was his lawyer during Duterte’s initial appearance before the pre-trial chamber.
However, recently, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte announced that former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and former presidential spokesman Harry Roque will not be part of the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
“Once maayos na yung team for ICC, magwi-withdraw si Atty. Medialdea kasi meron lang limited na mga slots for lawyers, and we want all the lawyers on board na merong ICC experience,” the Vice President said.
On the case of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, based on the report, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed that the reason for his exclusion from the legal team is with regards to the status of his stay in the Netherlands.
“Hindi pa kasi na-establish kung ano yung basis ng pag-stay niya dito sa Netherlands and we don’t want complications ba,” Duterte said.
Previously, Atty. Harry Roque claimed that he will file for asylum in the Netherlands. He also promised the Filipinos that he will bring Duterte back home safely.