Sara Duterte leaves for Netherlands to help father at ICC

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Vice President Sara Duterte follows former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Netherlands a day after his arrest

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday morning, March 12, left Manila for the Netherlands to help arrange the legal team of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his brutal drug war that killed thousands.

The Vice President’s office said the she left at around 7:40 am via Emirates flight No. EK 337 bound for Amsterdam.

“Further details regarding the Vice President’s trip will be provided as necessary,” her office said.

On Tuesday night, Sara Duterte said that she would follow her father to The Hague to help arrange his legal team. Rodrigo Duterte departed Manila at 11:03 pm on a chartered flight, which made a stop in Dubai on Wednesday morning before continuing on to Rotterdam.

Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest followed years of an ICC investigation into the brutal drug war, which human rights groups claim killed about 30,000 people. It is seen as justice for the victims’ families seeking accountability.

In an earlier statement, the Vice President decried her father’s arrest as “oppression and persecution,” claiming that her father was denied his fundamental rights.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the nation on Duterte’s arrest late Tuesday night, defending the Philippines’ decision to send Duterte to the ICC as “in compliance with our commitments to Interpol.”– Rappler.com