VP Sara Duterte calls for vigilance on dad Rodrigo Duterte's birthday celebration

Vice President Sara Duterte, on the occasion of the birthday of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, called for vigilance against what she calls "weaponization of the law" and the "intrusion of foreign bodies" allegedly seeking to bypass Philippine courts.

"We must remain vigilant against the weaponization of the law and the unconstitutional intrusion of foreign bodies that seek to bypass our own courts," the vice president said in a video message.

"Our justice system must remain independent, serving only the mandate of the Filipino people and never the interests of foreign powers," she added.

The elder Duterte marked his 81st birthday on Saturday while still in detention at the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison in the Netherlands. The International Criminal Court's Appeals Chamber affirmed on March 6 the Pre-Trial Chamber I's ruling to detain the former president on allegations of crimes against humanity.

VP Sara thanked their family's supporters for remembering her father.

"Today, we celebrate the birthday of my father, our former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. To all the parallel support groups, volunteers, and the millions of Filipinos here and abroad who organized celebrations to honor him, maraming salamat sa inyong walang sawang pagmamahal at katapatan (thank you very much for your unending love and loyalty)," she said.

"Your loyalty to him is a testament to a leadership that truly prioritized the safety and dignity of every Filipino family," the vice president added.

"But as we celebrate, we also stand firm. The defense of his rights is a defense of our national sovereignty," she stressed.

"To the Filipino people: thank you for being our strength. Through the storms and challenges, your resilience remains our inspiration. Patuloy nating ipaglaban ang dangal ng ating bansa. Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas—para sa Diyos, sa Bayan, at sa bawat Pamilyang Pilipino. Shukran," the vice president added.

(Let us continue to fight for the honor of our country. Let us love the Philippines — for God, Country, and for every Filipino Family. Thank you.) 

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has been detained at the ICC in The Hague since March 12, 2025 after his arrest. He is awaiting trial in connection with the alleged abuses in his war on drugs when he was Davao City mayor and president.

Duterte's children — Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, and Davao City Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte — have earlier filed petitions with the Supreme Court (SC) seeking the release of their father from detention at the ICC. 

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), representing the respondent government officials, however asked the SC to deny their consolidated petition for being moot and for utter lack of merit. The children, however, have filed separate memoranda with the SC, insisting that the consolidated petition seeking the release of their father from detention at the ICC is not moot. —KG, GMA Integrated News