Sara Duterte concerned Rodrigo’s interim release might be rejected

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday expressed concerns that the interim release of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, might not be granted, following the petition of the Office of the Prosecutor in the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the tribunal. 

The Vice President said that she has not yet read the recent request by the prosecution for the chamber to reject the defense’s call for Rodrigo Duterte’s interim release. 

As a daughter, she said she is worried that the tribunal will deny her father's release, considering his physical state.

“As a daughter, I am concerned that he will not be granted interim release. He is 80 years old, he is not in good health, he’s not been eating well and he needs support from familiar people and he needs the care of his family and loved ones,” she said. 

The Vice President, who is also a lawyer, also questioned the purpose of the provision on the interim release if it would simply be denied to the accused. 

The prosecution argued that Rodrigo Duterte’s continued detention is necessary to ensure his appearance during trial, saying that he does not accept the legitimacy of the legal proceedings against him.

It noted the former president’s previous remarks against the ICC as well as the petition he filed before the Supreme Court against the cooperation of the Philippine government with the ICC.

The prosecution further said that Rodrigo Duterte’s allies and family members remain in positions of power. It specifically mentioned VP Sara, noting that the vice president made clear that she views his detention as illegitimate. 

Rodrigo’s release also poses a risk to the ongoing investigation due to the possible opportunity to intimidate or threaten witnesses, as he appears to still wield considerable power, according to the prosecution. 

Sara Duterte, in response, emphasized that her power and authority as the Vice President do not extend beyond Philippine shores.

“I do not understand the reasoning behind opposing the interim release because of the position of the daughter. Because right now, he is not in interim release. He is detained in the ICC detention unit pero Vice President pa rin ako [but I’m still the VP],” she 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. —LDF, GMA Integrated News