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Neil Jayson Servallos - The Philippine Star
March 26, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Detained former president Rodrigo Duterte will spend his 80th birthday on March 28 with his common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and daughter Veronica, Vice President Sara Duterte said on Monday, citing a family decision.
“Since (Honeylet’s) time is limited because of her businesses that she needs to tend to and (Veronica) is still in school, so she needs to go home and can’t be absent for long. Their time’s limited so all the time that they can have, they have been given,” the Vice President said.
“I don’t have any scheduled visits with him this Friday because he’s allowed only two visits a day – one from a lawyer and one from family,” she said.
Sara said she did not mind relinquishing her visit because she does not have a limited time to stay at The Hague compared to Honeylet and Veronica.
“It’s OK. We don’t have any problems. We siblings have no problems. Things may be different for our mothers, but for us siblings… you should see our group chat. It’s funny,” she added.
The former president’s next hearing before the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been scheduled for Sept. 23 for the confirmation of charges of crimes against humanity.
‘Not moot’
Meanwhile, Duterte siblings Veronica, Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo and Davao City Mayor Sebastian have insisted to the Supreme Court that their petitions seeking his release and return to the Philippines are not moot even though he is already under ICC custody.
In her 34-page traverse filed March 24, Veronica said the SC can still command respondent Philippine government officials to seek the return of her father, even if the latter is already in The Hague.
“Petitioner hereby reiterates that the respondents should not be allowed to escape the extraordinary writ of habeas corpus by simply claiming that FPRRD (former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte) is no longer in their custody,” she said.
“To allow the same would be to reward the respondents for their illegal and unconstitutional actions, and their deliberate attempt to evade judicial review,” she added.
When asked, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla declined to comment on Duterte’s traverse, saying the matter is already pending before the SC.
He, however, strongly denied that the former president was “abducted,” reiterating that there was nothing illegal in the arrest of Duterte. — Daphne Galvez, Emmanuel Tupas
