Sara Duterte: Dad told me, ‘go home, don’t leave PH,’ during first meeting at ICC

MANILA, Philippines – Addressing their supporters in front of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, March 14, Vice President Sara Duterte assured them her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, was in “good spirits” and had only one wish for her: to go home and not leave the Philippines.

“When we talked, as a request, he asked me to go home. So he repeatedly said, do not leave the country. Do not leave the Philippines. And so I told him, I know, I understand that. And I do not want to be here as well,” the Vice President said, when asked about what they talked about.

The Vice President is currently in The Hague, Netherlands, to assist his father in arranging his legal team following his arrest on Tuesday, March 11, over his brutal drug war, which human rights groups claim resulted in around 30,000 deaths.

Sara said she would stay in The Hague until a family member could replace her. She has secured a travel clearance from the Philippine government until April 30. Back home, she is set to face an impeachment trial that could potentially remove her from office due to allegations of large-scale corruption. Senate President Chiz Escudero initially scheduled the trial on July 30.

“He said that, yes, I should immediately go back and just leave him here, but I said, no, I cannot do that because no one will decide for him outside. So very limited people have access to him right now. So I told him that I just have to form that legal team, then I can work remotely in the Philippines talking to the legal team. And then, yes, so I just need the next of kin to come here. And everyone’s applying for visa right now,” the Vice President said.