VP Sara wants ex-Pres Duterte’s interim release be in Davao City

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said she wants her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to be transferred to their hometown in Davao City should the request for his interim release be granted.  

In a press conference at the Senate, Duterte once again raised alarm about the condition of the former president, whom she said needs a 24-hour caregiver due to his health concerns. 

“Kung ako, Davao City talaga. Davao City, Philippines. Kahit house arrest ‘yan doon, kahit na gusto ng ICC na ilibing sa ilalim ng bunker ‘yan na ‘yung house arrest niya, walang problema sa amin, gagawin namin ‘yan,” she said. 

(For me, I want it to be in Davao City, Philippines. Even if it’s house arrest, even if his house arrest is in a bunker, there’s no problem with us, we will comply.) 

“In fact, I think mas makabuti pa nga kung ibigay na lang ‘yang interim release na ‘yan because we can encourage him to cooperate sa mangyayari na trial kung meron o mangyayari na hearings kung meron man… You know, mahalaga sa amin ‘yung word of honor namin sa pamilya,” she added. 

(In fact, I think it would be even better if his interim release be granted because we can encourage him to cooperate in the trial or hearings if there are any... You know, our word of honor in the family is important to us.) 

VP Sara over the weekend said that her father is in "troubling conditions" at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where he is being held on allegations of crimes against humanity related to his administration's war on drugs.

She said her family had received "credible" information that Rodrigo Duterte had to undergo laboratory tests "after being found unconscious on the floor of his room."

On Monday, she clarified that it was not the ICC itself that gave information about the incident, but a Filipino hospital personnel. 

“Tinanong ko siya (Rodrigo) kung totoo ba. Sabi niya, hindi naman ‘yan ang una, madaming beses na ako na…may ganyan. ‘Natumba’ was his term,” the Vice President said. 

(I asked my father if that’s true. He said that it was not the first time that he fell down.) 

Sara Duterte then expressed belief that the ICC does not have full control of the safety and security of the former president. 

“Keeping him in without a trial date, without a date for confirmation of charges is just plain cruelty ba. Pinapahirapan nila ang tao, naka-detain siya na para ba siyang kinulong nang hindi siya na-convict (they torture the person and keep him detained as if he was imprisoned without being convicted). Kaya sinasabi ko na (for) humanitarian purposes, they should allow the interim release of former president Duterte,” she explained. 

Rodrigo Duterte’s defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman earlier told the ICC that the former president is unable to recall events, places, timing, or even members of his close family. 

The ICC has postponed the hearing on the confirmation charges against Duterte initially scheduled on September 23, citing the defense's statement that he was “not fit to stand trial.”

VP Sara previously said that a third country has already expressed approval to host her father.

She, however, refused to identify which country this is. —AOL, GMA Integrated News