“This is like state kidnapping.”
Vice President Sara Duterte had this to say on Tuesday night, March 11, as she likened the arrest of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to “state kidnapping”, saying the Philippines appeared to have become a “doormat” for other countries to be used.
The Vice President arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City around 10 p.m. where his father has been placed under police custody.
“The Philippines is like a doormat for other countries, such as the ICC, kung sinuman nagsasamantala sa ating bayan kaya nakakalungkot. Saan ka ba nakahanap na ang bayan ‘yung kanyang citizen mismo ibibigay niya sa dayuhan? Nakakahiya bilang isang Pilipino,” she said.
As this developed, the plane carrying his father has left at 11:03 p.m. en route to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
According to the Vice President, she was able to talk to her father via video chat but she decided to go to him personally because the signal got choppy, accusing the state forces of jamming the signal.
“Sinabihan ko siya kung anong gagawin. Sinabihan ko siya ‘wag tumanggap ng pagkain o tubig,” she said.
She said the Filipino people should not allow the aircraft carrying Duterte to leave the Villamor Air Base. If the Duterte patriarch is flown to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, the Vice President said she would follow him.
“Yes, mayroon na pong arrangements kasi kailangan kong kausapin ang mga abogado. Kapag pinilit nila kung ano ang gusto nila at ‘di ang tama, susunod ako,” she said.
The Vice President felt her father’s arrest was a personal attack on their family.
Her coaster vehicle left around 10:52 p.m. after being denied entry to Villamor Air Base.