VP Duterte denies father’s imminent ICC release

THE International Criminal Court in The Hague, where former President Rodrigo Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of icc/fb page

THE International Criminal Court in The Hague, where former President Rodrigo Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of icc/fb page

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Vice President Sara Duterte dismissed online claims that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, would soon be released from International Criminal Court (ICC) custody.
Duterte said social media posts linking a planned rally in London to the former president’s possible return to the Philippines had misrepresented her earlier remarks.
“Alam naman natin lahat at nakikita natin sa ICC website yung schedule ng kanyang kaso,” Duterte told reporters in a chance interview in The Hague, Netherlands.
“Kung makikita natin, walang schedule ng hearing ng rallies at ang meron lang schedule ay yung kanyang trial proper,” she added.
The 81-year-old former president remains detained at the ICC as judges move forward with proceedings over allegations of crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign. Duterte has denied wrongdoing.
The ICC has scheduled the opening of his trial for Nov. 30 after judges ruled that the case would proceed. Prosecutors have accused Duterte and others of responsibility for killings carried out during the government’s war on illegal drugs, which rights groups say resulted in thousands of deaths.
Asked about her father’s condition, Duterte said the former president remained in good spirits and appeared happy during their meeting.
“Very good. Very happy ang mood ni President Duterte,” she said.
She added that Filipinos in the Netherlands had gathered outside to show support for the former president, but said Duterte himself had discouraged supporters from spending beyond their means or making sacrifices to visit him.
“Sabi niya gawin niyo na lang daw kung ano yung nasa puso ninyo,” she said.
The vice president also offered a glimpse of her father’s condition in detention, saying he had adjusted well to the weather in The Hague and preferred warmer temperatures over the cold.