Rodrigo Duterte eyeing Australia for interim release —VP Sara

Former president Rodrigo Duterte is looking at Australia as one of the countries for his possible interim release, according to his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte.

The vice president made the confirmation over the weekend while on a personal trip in Australia.  

“Australia is in the list of countries that are considered by the lawyers, but I am not here for the interim release. Not for this visit,” VP Sara said in an ambush interview. 

GMA News Online sought confirmation on Tuesday from former presidential legal counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo, but he said that he has “no idea” on the matter. 

Sara Duterte said that she went to Australia because she wanted to bring to the international community and talk to the Filipino community there “about the International Criminal Court and the case of former President Duterte [and discuss] what is happening in our country right now in terms of the performance of the administration of President Marcos.”

She also said that she tried to reach out to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, but the latter was unavailable to meet her on Monday. 

“So, I will not be visiting Australian government officials for this visit. But I do hope that I can meet them in my next visit in the future,” the Vice President said.

The Duterte patriarch is facing a crimes against humanity case before the ICC over his administration’s drug war. Though he is currently under ICC custody, his camp has sought his release to an undisclosed country.

In their request, Rodrigo Duterte’s camp argued that the former president is not a flight risk. They also cited humanitarian considerations for the interim release, saying that Duterte is already 80 years old. 

The prosecution is expected to answer the ICC regarding Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release. —KG, GMA Integrated News