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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'It doesn't make sense': VP Sara belies father's influence if granted interim release

'It doesn't make sense': VP Sara belies father's influence if granted interim release

Published Jun 25, 2025 02:27 pm
For Vice President Sara Duterte, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution did not make a sound argument when it opposed the application for interim release of former president Rodrigo Duterte because of his perceived influence over witnesses.

Vice President Sara Duterte delivers her speech during the
Vice President Sara Duterte delivers her speech during the "Kasarilayaan" event of the Office of the Vice President in celebration of Pride Month held in San Fernando, Pampanga on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Santi San Juan/MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview on the sidelines of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) “Kasarilayaan 2025” event in Pampanga on Wednesday, June 25, the younger Duterte denied that his father had exercised his power and influence over witnesses of the alleged extrajudicial killings done under his time.

The ICC prosecution claimed that granting interim release to the former president will allow him to exercise influence and intimidate individuals who will stand as witnesses to his crimes against humanity charges.

“So, it doesn’t make sense to say na magkakaroon pa siya ng influence kung meron siyang interim release dahil noong nandito siya sa Pilipinas, naging mayor siya, naging president siya, at even noong natapos ang term niya hindi niya kailanman tinanong (that he will have an influence if he’s granted interim release because when he was here in the Philippines, he became a mayor, a president, and even after his term, he never asked),” she told reporters.

“So, he never did anything against the witnesses,” the official claimed.

The Vice President stressed she and former Palace spokesman and lawyer Harry Roque were the ones persuading the former president to ready himself against the ICC case.

In the 15-page document submitted by the ICC prosecution to the Pre-Trial Chamber I (PTC I), it cited several instances when the former chief executive intimidated and harassed witnesses and critics.

Included in their filing were the detention of former senator and now Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima, the alleged intimidation of witnesses by known Duterte ally Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and the call to the public to “kill” bishops and “shoot” human rights activists in response to their criticisms of his drug war.

The younger Duterte likewise questioned the move of the prosecution to oppose the interim release “based on the statements of family members” claiming that the former president was kidnapped or abducted by the court.

“So, it is clear that he is in court requesting for interim release and signifying that he will comply with all the obligations . . . So, ibig sabihin (it means) the accused himself submitted to the power of the court for interim release and whatever obligation he needs to comply,” she added.

The Vice President stressed that the ICC must base their decision on the “actions” and the commitments of the accused and not the remarks of his family members.

No influence as VP outside PH

She also denied claims made by the ICC prosecution that she would have influence over his father’s case once he has been released to an unspecified country.

“Unang-una (First of all), we don’t deny that I have a position in government in the Philippines. But my power and authority do not extend beyond Philippine shores. So, kung saan man yung bansa na may interim release ay wala tayong say doon at hindi makikinig yung gobyerno doon sa Philippine vice president (wherever that country is, we don’t have an influence there and the government there will not listen to a Philippine vice president),” she explained.

However, the younger Duterte seemed to understand that “whether or not (the prosecution’s arguments are) reasonable” doesn’t matter because their job was to oppose the defense.

She expressed fears about her father’s advance age if their camp’s request for interim release will be denied.

“He is not in good health, he has not been eating well, and he needs support from familiar people and he needs the care of his family and loved ones,” the Vice President said.

Related Tags

ICC Prosecution interim release Rodrigo Duterte VP Sara Duterte
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