Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (Facebook)

In a heartfelt birthday message for his incarcerated father, Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte vowed that their family won't leave the former president's side.

Rep. Duterte, in a Facebook post on Friday night, March 28, highlighted that they were "raised right" by their "strict" and "disciplinarian" father, who turned 80 that day.

The elder Duterte is being detained and tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands for crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s bloody war on drugs. 

"You are going through a rough time now Pa. Gusto ko magalit, na despite everything that you have done for the country, eto ang kapalit, ang hinayaan ka madala sa ibang bansa para husgahan ng mga hindi naman alam ang kalagayan ng Pilipinas," Rep. Duterte wrote.

(I want to be angry, that despite everything that you have done for the country, this happened, they let you be taken to another country to be judged without knowing the situation of the Philippines.)

"Pero alam ko ang sasabihin mo, sasabihin mo lang na 'Pulong, you were raised right kaya yan ang ipakita mo (But I know what you're going to say, you will say, 'Pulong, you were raised right, so show them that),'" the Davao congressman said.

"Pa, ngayon mas naiintindihan ko na ang mga tinuro mo. Tinuruan mo din kami kung pano lumaban kaya hindi ka namin iiwan. Happy birthday Pa (Pa, now I understand better all that you've taught us. You also taught us how to fight, that’s why we will never leave you. Happy birthday Pa)," Pulong further wrote.

Rep. Duterte's post came with an old photo of him and his father.

Elements of the International Police (Interpol), acting on an arrest warrant from the ICC, brought ex-president Duterte to the Netherlands last March 11.

His next hearing before the United Nations (UN)-backed court will take place in September 2025.