Vice President Sara Duterte and Veronica "Kitty" Duterte expressed their gratitude and admiration for their father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, as he celebrated his 80th birthday while under International Criminal Court (ICC) custody in the Netherlands on Friday, March 28.

In a statement, the Vice President extended her appreciation to Filipinos across the globe who continue to support her father. She acknowledged their efforts in gathering to celebrate the arrested former president's milestone and the challenges he currently faces.

"Sa mga kababayan natin sa Pilipinas, The Netherlands at iba’t ibang panig ng mundo— napakalaking bagay para kay Pangulong Duterte ang pagtitipon ninyo para sa kanyang pag-uwi at kaarawan (To our fellow Filipinos in the Philippines, The Netherlands, and various parts of the world—your gathering for President Duterte’s homecoming and birthday means so much to him)," she wrote.

"Maraming salamat at napapagaan nito ang mga hamon na hinaharap niya ngayon (Thank you, this eases the challenges he is facing now)," she added.

The Vice President also called on the public to offer prayers for her father's health and wellbeing, emphasizing their hope for his return to the Philippines.

"Sa kanyang pagdiriwang ng kanyang 80th birthday, huwag nating kalimutan na ipagdasal sa Diyos na sana ay biyayaan pa siya ng mas magandang kalusugan at mas mahabang buhay (As he celebrates his 80th birthday, let us not forget to pray to God that he may be blessed with better health and a longer life)," she said.

"Hilingin din natin sa Diyos na sana ay makauwi na agad si Pangulong Duterte sa Pilipinas (Let us also ask God that President Duterte may be able to return home to the Philippines soon)," she added.

Vice President Duterte then encouraged Filipinos to continue supporting her father, especially in light of the upcoming elections in May.

"Sana ay magpatuloy din ang inyong suporta at pagmamahal sa ating dating Pangulo hanggang sa darating na halalan ng ating mga senador (May your support and love for our former President continue until the upcoming senatorial elections)," she said.

"Sa inyong kaisog, suporta ug pag-ampo kami nagasandig ug nanghinaot nga atong makab-ot ang hustiya alang kang Rodrigo Duterte, sa mga Pilipino, ug sa atong nasud nga Pilipinas (On your courage, support, and prayers, we lean and hope that we will achieve justice for Rodrigo Duterte, the Filipino people, and our nation, the Philippines)," she added.

In a separate message, the Vice President shared a personal tribute to her father, thanking him for the lessons of resilience and courage he imparted.

"I learned resilience and courage in your exigence. Thank you for teaching me the value of education. I wish you love, good health, and happiness," she wrote.

Meanwhile, Veronica, the former president's youngest daughter, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt reaction to her father's legacy and their relationship.

"A man of very few words, but the most actions. My father has always been a force to be reckoned with. Even in his sunset days, he poses the biggest threat, because of his bold heroism and patriotism," she wrote.

"He is indeed a man, a father of the people. His love goes beyond his commitment and devotion to the people," she added.

She recalled moments from her childhood when she felt envious of the time he dedicated to public service, only to realize later the depth of his commitment to the Filipino people.

"Now that I am of age and I see the world in a new perspective, I developed this compassion for everyone he cared for. I see what he was trying to do for his countrymen," she said.

Veronica, who is now in the Netherlands with her mother Honeylet Avanceña, vowed to ensure that her father's legacy endures through his family and the Filipino people, expressing her gratitude to those who continue to support him.

"We will make certain that his legacy lives on. Through us, his children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, and the Filipino people," she said.

"My heart goes out to each and every one of you who are in this battle to bring him home," she added.

Former president Duterte is under custody of the ICC in The Hague in The Netherlands following his arrest and subsequent surrender to the court for crimes against humanity on March 11.