VP Sara Duterte confirms requesting anew to visit father at ICC detention

Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed on Sunday that she has filed another request with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow her visit her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in December.

In a Super Radyo dzBB report of Sam Nielsen, Duterte announced her recent request to the high tribunal during a gathering with overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

Duterte said she is hopeful that the ICC will allow her to visit the former president who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands.

“Nag-apply na rin ako ulit ng pagbisita ngayong December kay dating Pangulong Duterte at sana ay ma-approve ang aking pagbisita,” the Vice President said.

(I filed an application again to be allowed to visit former President Duterte in December, and I'm hoping for it to be approved.)

Rodrigo Duterte is currently facing crimes against humanity case at the ICC. His trial is set to start on November 30, 2026.

PH-China relations

On Philippine-China relations, the Vice President said territorial disputes are better discussed among groups of diplomats than in heated arguments.

“Dapat balanse, hindi siya basta na lang tira nang tira… ganiyan dapat ang pakikitungo natin sa iba't ibang bansa hindi lang sa People's Republic of China,” Duterte said.

(It should be balanced. You can't just keep attacking... that's how we should deal with different countries, not just the People's Republic of China.)

“Dapat tinutulak lagi ng pamahalaan ang interes ng Pilipinas sa lahat ng relasyon nito. Hindi natin dapat buhat-buhat ang interes ng iisang pulitiko lamang, isang negosyante lamang o interes ng ibang dayuhan,” she added.

(The government should always push for the interest of the Philippines in all its relations. We should not be carrying the interests of just a single politician, a single businessman, or the interests of other foreigners.)

The Vice President's statement follows the series of heated verbal exchanges between Filipino and Chinese officials, particularly after Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan's “thinly veiled threat” regarding the use of force against the Philippines.— BAP, GMA News