Senator Mark Villar remembered a touching call he got from former President Rodrigo Duterte during his time as Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief.

In a Facebook post, Villar said that Duterte called him personally and was surprised with the many missed calls before he answered.

"It turns out he was calling from the children’s cancer ward and his plea was for me to help look for a job for the father of one of the child cancer patients," he said.

"The father was an out of work engineer who was having a hard time financially especially with his child’s condition. We were able to help the father and I remember feeling so touched by his concern for those children," he added.

Villar said that amidst all the trials and projects we completed during their time together, this one stood out as one of his most "poignant" memories of him and that he will always remember the "sincerity and kindness" of Duterte's actions that day.

He added that these speak volumes about his character and compassion for others.

In conclusion of his post, Villar hoped that Duterte is in good health and being treated well.

" I’m sad that your simple wish to be judged by the Filipino people did not reach fruition. I continue to pray that you will be given the fairness and compassion that all Filipinos deserve," he said.

Duterte was arrested on Tuesday, March 11, after the Interpol received an arrest warrant from the ICC.

The plane carrying the former president took off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 11:03 p.m. headed to The Hague in the Netherlands, where he will be facing charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs during his administration.