Sara Duterte says she forgot to ask if father will change ICC lawyers

Vice President Sara Duterte said she forgot to ask her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, whether he plans to change his lawyers handling his crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The Vice President, who is currently in The Hague, was asked by a supporter about speculation that her father may replace his legal counsel following recent developments in the case.

"Oo nga. Sinabi ko pala, no na itatanong ko iyan kanina, nakalimutan ko siya. Sorry, I will ask that question tomorrow of former President Duterte. I forgot that question kanina," she said in an interview on 27 January.

Earlier, the ICC said the former president was fit to participate in pretrial proceedings related to crimes against humanity charges stemming from deaths linked to his administration’s war on drugs.

The ICC chamber has scheduled the confirmation of charges on 23 February after denying Duterte’s request for an indefinite adjournment.

Nicholas Kaufman, the former president’s legal counsel, said the defense team will seek to appeal the ruling.

The defense expressed disappointment with the decision, saying it was denied the opportunity to present its own medical evidence and arguing that the former president was deprived of due process.

The Vice President was also asked to comment on remarks by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who said the worst possible outcome for Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa would be to be taken into ICC custody while still a sitting senator.

"Sa tingin ko lang ha, sa lahat ng tao, sa buhay ng isang tao, the worst thing that could happen is magkasakit at mamatay. Kapag wala kang sakit at hindi ka namatay at buhay na buhay ka pa kahit nasa loob ka man ng kulungan o nasa labas ka ng kulungan, okay na," Duterte said.

"Yung sitwasyon ni Sanator Bato, wala yan. Hindi naman siya nagkasakit eh. Yung mga kawawa ng mga tao yung mga magpachemo tapos sobrang hina after nila. Ayaw kumain, walang gana kumain, yung mga gano'n, yung mga sakit na wala ng gamot, yung mga nasa hospice, yung mga nagaantay na lang kung anong oras sila kukunin ni Lord. Alam na nilang kukunin sila, nagaantay lang sila kung anong oras. Yun yung mga worst cases or worst incidents na mangyari sa buhay ng isang tao. Kapag buhay na buhay ka, wala kang sakit at hindi ka namatay, okay kaya, go lang!" the Vice President added.