Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said that she advised Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to prepare for possible developments in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the war on drugs during the administration of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the ICC detention facility.
"As early as April of this year, nagsabi na rin talaga ako kay Sen. Bato Dela Rosa na maghanda siya sa kung ano man 'yung mga posibleng mangyari patungkol sa ICC case," Duterte said in an ambush interview in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental.
"At ang sinabi ko sa kanya din na ang paghahanda niya magsisimula sa pagpili niya ng isang international law expert at merong experience sa ICC na abogado para nabibigyan siya ng advice kung ano 'yung mga dapat niyang gawin," the Vice President added.
Duterte also said that local officials who went on leave during Typhoon Tino should explain why they were not in their areas of responsibility during the onslaught of the typhoon.
"Antayin natin kung ano 'yung aksyon ng Department of the Interior and Local Government dahil ito 'yung ahensya na kung saan nakapailalim ang ating mga local government officials," Duterte said.
"Dapat meron silang saktong sagot kung bakit wala sila doon sa kanilang area of responsibility noong panahon ng bagyo. Lalo pati, pag ikaw ay governor or mayor, ikaw 'yung local chief executive. Ibig sabihin nun, ikaw 'yung head ng disaster council. So, kasama doon sa trabaho mo 'yung maghahanda ng disaster council at kung ano 'yung course ng disaster council," the Vice President added.
Duterte also denied allegations that she was among the financiers of a supposed destabilization plot against the government.
The Vice President was reacting to the claim of journalist Ramon Tulfo that she, her brother Davao City Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, and former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson were financing a destabilization plot against the Marcos administration.
"Yung mga ganyan na kung napapansin nyo, ako ay hindi talaga ako nagbibigay ng mga alegasyon kung wala akong ebidensya. So 'yung mga ganyan kapag meron kang alegasyon, wala kang ebidensya, ang tawag niyan ay chismis o ang tawag sa iyo ay chismosa," she said.
Asked if she’s willing to disclose her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), Duterte said that it was already stated in the impeachment complaint filed against her.
"Nandun naman na 'yung request at ini-expect ko ay ibigay sa kanila ng Ombudsman dahil kasama naman niyan sa narrative ng mga yellow, ng mga pink, ng Akbayan, ng Makabayan, at ng Marcos administration 'yung paghahabol sa akin," she said.
"In fact, doon sa impeachment complaint makikita nyo na isa doon sa Articles of Impeachment ay ang aking SALN. So hindi mahirap sa kanila na kunin 'yung SALN ko," the Vice President added.