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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara says dad Rody 'worrying' about current PH state

VP Sara says dad Rody 'worrying' about current PH state

Published Sep 21, 2025 08:58 am  |  Updated Sep 21, 2025 03:28 pm
Former president Rodrigo Duterte (ICC Photo)
Former president Rodrigo Duterte (ICC Photo)
Although former president Rodrigo Duterte is detained in The Hague, Netherlands, Vice President Sara Duterte said he keeps the Philippines in mind, worried about the current corruption issues plaguing the country.

The official was able to talk to her father on Friday, Sept. 19, via a phone call from The Hague.

“Nag-alala siya sa mga pangyayari sa Pilipinas, sa korapsyon. Tinatanong niya ako kung anong ginagawa (He was worried about what’s happening in the Philippines because of corruption. He’s asking about what’s being done),” the official shared.

Duterte is currently in Japan for a rally organized by the Filipino community there. The “Pagtitipon ng Pagkakaisa Para Kay Tatay Digong” was held at the Sumida Riverside Hall in Sumida City, Tokyo on Saturday, Sept. 20.

The Vice President also shared about the current petitions pending before the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding her father’s case.

There are two petitions they are awaiting adjudication on: the jurisdiction challenge that is questioning the timing of the start of investigation by the ICC in the drug war that is the basis of the crimes against humanity case against her father, and the interim release application so the former president can be released temporarily to a third-party country.

“Merong isang bansa na nagsabi na okay lang na dito nyo ilagay si dating pangulong Duterte (There is a country that is willing to accept former president Duterte),” she said. “Medyo natagalan ang pag-file namin ng interim release dahil kinausap pa namin at naghanap pa ako ng tutulong sa amin (The filing of the interim release took a while because I had to look for someone who will help us).”

“Hindi kong masabi sa inyo kung saan pero pwede kong sabihin hindi siya sa Japan (I cannot tell you where but I can tell you that it’s not Japan),” she added.

The former president was supposed to face a confirmation of charges hearing on Sept. 23 but the ICC’s pre-trial chamber postponed it after Duterte’s lead counsel said he is unfit to stand trial because of his declining cognitive health.

Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman claimed that the former president has been having a hard time recalling events, places, time, and even some members of his family.

Meanwhile, the Vice President shared that her father even inquired about her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, who is currently in The Hague and was scheduled to visit him.

“Duda ko, maaga siya naligo. Kumain maaga, naligo ng maaga, (I think he took a bath early. He ate early, he took a bath early) Excited!,” she said, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

Although the elder Duterte and Zimmerman got annulled, they have maintained a civil relationship. It is not clear if the former president’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, is now able to visit him after previously being barred from the detention facility.

Related Tags

Rodrigo Duterte ICC interim release VP Sara Duterte Flood control scandal
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