Sara wraps up Hague mission, sets return

‘We’ve also formed the legal team, the new lawyer, one of whom I met with President Duterte today.’

Neil Alcober,Lade Jean Kabagani·6 April 2025, 12:20 am·1 MIN READ

Sara wraps up Hague mission, sets return — SUPPORTERS of former President Rodrigo Duterte hold a candlelight ceremony and prayer rally in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, seeking divine intervention for the release of ‘Tatay Digong’ from ICC detention and his return to the Philippines.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PDP Laban-Caraga region

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Sara: Sarcasm lost on him

Meanwhile, the Vice President said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. didn’t get her “sarcasm” when she thanked him for the renewed relationship with her father.

“I think the sarcasm was lost on him. He probably didn’t understand me,” she told reporters.

Marcos had earlier said he was “glad to be of help” after Duterte thanked him for bringing her and her father closer together following the latter’s arrest.

“He probably doesn’t understand that his duty and obligation are to the country, not to resolve the personal problems of families. The sarcasm was lost on him,” the Vice President said.

Duterte had expressed her gratitude to Marcos after she and her father were reconciled in The Hague.

“And we now have a relationship — a father-daughter relationship — as we can no longer discuss legal matters since it is understood that only the lawyers can address legal issues with the former president,” Sara told the media after visiting her father on Tuesday.

Duterte said the time spent with her father has been invaluable, providing one of the few opportunities they’ve had to discuss family matters.

“So, we only talk about family. This has been one of the longest meetings I’ve had with the former president,” she said.

AFP assures protection for VP

In another development, the Armed Forces of the Philippines clarified on Saturday that the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group was reorganized and not deactivated as reported on social media.

In a statement, the AFP explained the VPSPG was integrated into the AFP Security and Protection Group as part of the “rationalization and streamlining” approved by the Department of National Defense in February 2025.

The AFP emphasized that this “administrative adjustment” was made to unify security and protection operations.

“The reorganization ensures the continued, uninterrupted, and robust protection of the Vice President within a more integrated and optimized framework,” the AFP said.