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HEARING. Vice President Sara Duterte attends the Senate hearing on the 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President, on November 13, 2024.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
The Vice President also seems resigned to the possibility of bringing her father back to the Philippines, despite their camp questioning what they consider the 'illegal' arrest of the former president
MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte assured on Thursday, March 20, that she was fulfilling her duties as the country’s second-highest official, even while abroad. She said that she has been working remotely since traveling to The Hague to assist her father in arranging his legal team for the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Hindi ko naman din gusto talaga na mag-stay dito. Dahil ang mga anak ko, ang pamilya ko ay nandyan sa Pilipinas at ang trabaho ko ay nandyan sa Pilipinas. Pero as Vice President, may duty din ako sa isang kababayan natin, isang Filipino citizen who is held against his will dito sa ICC detention center,” Duterte said.
(I don’t really want to stay here. My children and family are in the Philippines, and my work is in the Philippines. But as Vice President, I also have a duty to a fellow Filipino citizen who is being held against his will here at the ICC detention center.)
“Hindi ko nakakalimutan ang aking trabaho dyan sa Office of the Vice President. Araw-araw kami nag-uusap ng aking mga kasamahan. Iilan na lang naman po ang naiwan na projects dahil approximately P700 million ‘yung budget namin na diyan,” she added.
(I haven’t forgotten my work at the Office of the Vice President. I talk to my colleagues every day. There are only a few projects left since our budget of approximately P700 million is still allocated there.)
Duterte was reacting to the Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro’s remark, reminding her that she has responsibilities as vice president of the country.
Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, was flown to The Hague in the Netherlands on March 11, following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC over his brutal drug war, which human rights groups say led to about 30,000 deaths. The Vice President left the country on March 12 and has been in The Hague since March 13.
The Vice President said she obtained a travel permit from the Philippine government valid until April 30. While she has a return ticket for April, her exact return date remains uncertain.
Rodrigo not coming back
The Vice President also seemed resigned to the possibility of bringing her father back to the Philippines, despite their camp questioning what they consider the “illegal” arrest of the former president. They argue that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines, as the country is not a member state.
“Sa totoo lang wala akong nararamdaman. Hindi ako galit, hindi ako disappointed. Nothing at all. Kasi pointless naman na mag-harbor ako ng feelings about what happened. Hindi na siya maibabalik. Hindi na mababalik si pangulong Duterte sa Pilipinas,” she said.
(To be honest, I don’t feel anything. I’m not angry, I’m not disappointed. Nothing at all. Because it’s pointless to harbor feelings about what happened. It can’t be undone. President Duterte can’t be brought back to the Philippines.)
On Thursday, the Vice President joined the Senate probe into her father’s arrest via phone from The Hague, led by Senator Imee Marcos. During the hearing, she once again denounced her father’s arrest.
“This was patently an illegal arrest which constitutes extraordinary rendition. A Filipino citizen, a former President, was taken into custody without a valid warrant issued by a Philippine court — without due process and without any legal basis under our laws,” she said.
Rappler has explained the issue extensively about the former president’s arrest. You can read them here.
Asked if she would endorse the reelection of Marcos, the Vice President didn’t answer directly.
“Wala kaming napag-usapan about endorsement ni Senator Imee Marcos. But let me just express my gratitude to Senator Imee Marcos for opening the Senate investigation,” she said.
(We didn’t discuss anything about Senator Imee Marcos’ endorsement. But let me just express my gratitude to Senator Imee Marcos for opening the Senate investigation.)
Political observers note that Marcos’ poor survey ratings may stem from her neutral stance in the ongoing conflict between her family and the Dutertes. In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Marcos dropped out of the winning circle, placing 14th. Her committee’s hearing on Thursday clearly defied her brother’s leadership direction. – Rappler.com
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