Imee barred from meeting Duterte

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June 1, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — One of the staunchest allies of the Duterte family, Sen. Imee Marcos, was barred by the International Criminal Court (ICC) from visiting former president Rodrigo Duterte in his cell at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Vice President Sara Duterte said yesterday.

“I mentioned to him (former president Duterte) that Senator Imee Marcos is here but she was not allowed by the ICC to visit and talk to former president Rodrigo Duterte,” Vice President Duterte said in a video interview outside the prison compound. The video was provided by the Office of the Vice President.

The Vice President and her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, visited the former president on the eve of her 47th birthday and the scheduled gathering of Filipino supporters in The Hague to press for the release of Duterte, who is awaiting trial for crimes against humanity.

The Vice President mentioned to her father the senator’s investigation on his arrest and her committee’s submission of its findings to the Office of the Ombudsman.

“He was thankful. He said he wanted to talk to Senator Imee but she was not allowed but he said, ‘there will be another time for that,’” the Vice President added.

She clarified that Marcos has no involvement in the case of former president Duterte.

“Sen. Marcos has no role in the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte. She is only here to talk to Attorney (Nicholas) Kaufman. Whatever they discussed, I was not there so it is important to talk to Sen. Imee Marcos. She has no role either on the defense or on the ICC prosecution case,” the Vice President added. Kaufman is the head of the legal team of the former president.

The Vice President said that during their visit inside the detention cell, she brought a can of Coke Zero for her father.

“We were late for 30 minutes so our visit only lasted for one hour. When we arrived, he was already waiting and he was happy when he saw us, as he knew we were there to celebrate pre-birthday with him with my mother. As usual, I brought him Coke Zero. He did not drink it. He said he will bring it to his room,” the Vice President said.

She also told her father about the election victory of some of their allies who ran for senator in the May 12 elections.

“I told him, two of the PDP Laban senator candidates won, together with the guest candidate (Rodante) Marcoleta, plus two guest candidates from Alyansa – Senator (elect) Camille Villar and Sen. Imee Marcos,” she said.