Rody wants cremation in Netherlands if he dies there, says VP Sara

The Hague, Netherlands — Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday shared her father’s final wish: if he dies while in the Netherlands, he wants to be cremated there and have only his ashes brought home to the Philippines.

“He already gave his last instructions,” Duterte said during an ambush interview. “He said if he dies here in the Netherlands, don’t bring his body back to the Philippines—just cremate him here and return only the ashes.”

But the Vice President admitted she isn’t on board with the idea.

“I told him we should discuss it another time, because I’m not pro-cremation. He is. But I’m not,” she said.

While she acknowledged it’s natural for someone at 80 to think about these things, Duterte joked that not following her father's wishes might come with consequences.

“My only issue is that I’m not pro-cremation,” she said. “What I fear is that he might haunt me if I don’t follow his wishes.”

Sara Duterte also offered an update on the former president’s condition, saying he wasn’t in the best mood when she visited him at the detention facility.

“He was irritated with his fingernails. So we clipped them using a nail cutter lent to us by one of the guards,” she shared.

Despite his significant weight loss, Duterte said her father appeared physically well. “He lost a lot of weight, but he doesn’t seem weak. What stood out to me—though I didn’t mention it because of his mood—is how clear his skin looked. It’s firm, like he had an Ulthera treatment,” she joked, referencing a non-surgical skin-tightening procedure.

She said they would consult the lawyers on whether they’re allowed to take a photo of her father inside the facility. “We’ll ask the lawyers if that’s even allowed, and if yes, we’ll request them to take a photo,” she said.

The Vice President also addressed the recantation of alias "Rene"—Michael Maurillo—who previously claimed she, her father, and preacher Apollo Quiboloy bribed him to testify. He now alleges Senator Risa Hontiveros paid him instead.

“That’s a very serious accusation,” Duterte said. “If he believes he should file a case, he should go ahead so the truth comes out in court, and the accused can respond there properly.”

She said she had already read Rene’s affidavit, noting that it claims he stayed in a house with supposed ICC witnesses arranged by Hontiveros.

Asked about the Davao City property at Doña Luisa Village, Duterte said her father’s longtime partner Honeylet Avanceña could legally sell her share, but not the entire property.

“As a lawyer, it’s co-owned. Honeylet can sell her share, but not the part owned by President Duterte. What they do with it will depend on their agreement,” she said. “As a daughter, I just worry—if he comes back to Davao, where will he live if they sell the house?”

The Vice President also responded to a recent survey showing that 42 percent of Filipinos oppose the impeachment case against her. She believes this public sentiment could influence how senator-judges view the complaint.

“Maybe many of our countrymen understand what’s happening to me and my family. It’s pure political persecution and harassment,” she said.

“We hope the senator-judges look into our legal arguments, because we have many solid points on why the impeachment should be dismissed.”

On the issue of leaked bank statements, Duterte said she will not file any cases for now.

“No, I’m not filing anything. Even for the libelous things that came out, I haven’t filed a single case. I just leave it all to God. I believe God’s wrath is far worse when the time comes,” she said.

Still, she said she is ready to face the allegations in court or in public, should the impeachment push fail.

“For now, I have no obligation to answer these issues publicly because the data was obtained illegally. But if the impeachment doesn’t proceed, I’ll take time to sit down and respond publicly,” she said.