Veronica 'Kitty' Duterte pens message for Father Rodrigo's 80th birthday

Former presidential daughter Veronica "Kitty" Duterte took to social media to celebrate the 80th birthday of her father, former Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

On Instagram, Kitty shared a touching caricature of herself with her father, accompanied by an emotional message. Duterte is currently in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Scheveningen, The Hague, Netherlands, where he awaits trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

"A man of very few words, but the most actions. My father has always been a force to be reckoned with. Even in his sunset days, he poses the biggest threat because of his bold heroism and patriotism. He is indeed a man—a father of the people. His love goes beyond his commitment and devotion to the people," Kitty wrote.

Reflecting on her childhood, Kitty admitted that she once struggled with feelings of envy due to her father’s dedication to public service.

"Looking back on my younger years, I was an envious girl. I felt a profound sense of jealousy towards the children he would visit and the fact that he would rather work overtime at City Hall than tuck me into bed. I was jealous of the people who would call him ‘Tatay’ when he was supposed to be mine. I even remember a dear friend telling me, ‘Your father was more of a father to me than my own ever was.’"

As she grew older, Kitty gained a deeper understanding of her father’s role as a leader and protector of the Filipino people.

"Now that I am of age and see the world from a new perspective, I have developed compassion for everyone he cared for. I see what he was trying to do for his countrymen," she added.

She also vowed to uphold her father’s legacy and expressed her hope to bring him back home.

"We will make certain that his legacy lives on—through us, his children, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the Filipino people. I have never been more honored to be a Davaoeño. We have relied on the people alone. You have brought us this far, and you are the reason for his strong will to live. My heart goes out to each and every one of you who are in this battle to bring him home. Today, we celebrate former president Rodrigo Duterte. Daghang salamat!"

Kitty and her mother, Honeylet Avanceña, are currently in The Hague, Netherlands, to visit the former president.

Duterte is set to face his next ICC hearing on 23 September in relation to the investigation into his administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign, known as Oplan Tokhang.

The campaign, which aimed to eliminate illegal drugs in the country, drew widespread criticism for alleged human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings. The ICC has been investigating these incidents, leading to Duterte’s arrest and detention as he awaits trial for his alleged role in the operation.