Vice Pres. Sara Duterte To Return to The Hague, Netherlands on May
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President revealed her promise to her parents, former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Elizabeth Zimmerman, on her birthday.
Vice Pres. Duterte has returned to the Philippines early this month after she has finalized the legal team of former Pres. Duterte for his legal battle before the International Criminal Court. The former Chief Executive is faced with an allegation of crimes against humanity before the ICC.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque is not part of the ICC legal team of Duterte according to the former President’s lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman. Aside from the British-Israel Lawyer, French lawyer Dov Jacobs is also part of the ICC legal team of the former Philippine President. Kaufman is confident about their jurisdictional argument before the ICC.
The confirmation of charges against Duterte is set on September 23. His chief counsel is hoping to be able to convince the judges that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines. According to him, if that happens, things may no longer get to the September hearing.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte immediately returned to the Philippines after finalizing the legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Back in the country, she is faced with an impeachment trial that is proposed to begin in July. According to the Vice President, her legal team for her impeachment case was set even before the unexpected turn of events last March 11.
The lawyers of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte are “more than confident” to win the impeachment trial. As for the Vice President, she is confident on her lawyers. Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was reportedly one of the lawyers of his daughter in her impeachment case but he is now detained in The Hague, Netherlands.
This 31st of May, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will celebrate her 47th birthday. Based on a video posted on the Facebook page Meh Lody, the Vice President revealed that she made a promise to her parents to spend her birthday with both of them.
“Nagpromise ako sa mga magulang ko, sa nanay at sa tatay ko, na sa birthday ko, silang dalawa ang kasama ko so babalik ako sa Hague sa birthday ko kasama ‘yung nanay ko,” she said.
Elizabeth Zimmerman, VP Sara’s mother, flew to The Hague, Netherlands to visit her former husband inside the ICC detention facility. However, based on the post, the ex-wife of former Pres. Duterte was not able to see him as she has no permit to get inside the ICC detention facility.
“Noong nagkausap kami ni Pangulong Duterte kahapon, inaantay niya daw na magbisita yung nanay ko… Sabi ko sa birthday ko na lang tayo magkita tatlo,” Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said.
Upon her return in the Philippines, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte endorsed the senatorial bid of Senator Imee Marcos. The Vice President also campaigns for Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar’s senatorial bid as well as the PDP Laban candidates.