Asked in an interview in The Hague on May 11 whether she had an opinion on the change in Senate leadership, Sara Duterte said she had little to say other than to respect the senators’ decision.
"Well, wala naman kasi… kung ano yung liderato sa loob na ng Senado, decision yun ng mga senators, mga miyembro ng ating Philippine Senate (Well, there’s really nothing... because whoever leads within the Senate is the decision of the senators — the members of our Philippine Senate)," Duterte said.
"So kung ano yung kalabasan ng kanilang botohan, ay desisyon yun ng karamihan ng kanilang botohan ay desisyon yun ng karamihan ng kanilang mga miyembro (So whatever the outcome of their voting may be, that is the decision of the majority of their members)," Duterte added.
The change in the Senate leadership—from Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano—took place on the same day the House of Representatives impeached Duterte for the second time.
'Dela Rosa arrest wrong'
The Vice President, meanwhile, criticized the attempt made by Philippine authorities to arrest Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa in the Senate over alleged crimes related to the Duterte administration's war on drugs.
Duterte likened it to her father's arrest over crimes against humanity, saying it was wrong as she argued that it must be coursed through a Philippine court.
"Mali 'yan. Tulad ng ginawa nila kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, mali din yun (That is wrong. Just like what they did to former President Rodrigo Duterte, that was also wrong)," Duterte said.
"Dahil ang isang warrant of arrest galing sa labas ng Pilipinas, hindi issued by a Philippine court (Because a warrant of arrest coming from outside the Philippines, not issued by a Philippine court), should be presented in a Philippine court," Duterte added.
The ICC has accused Dela Rosa of crimes against humanity in connection with at least 32 killings allegedly committed during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
In the arrest warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I dated Nov. 6, 2025, and later reclassified as public on May 11, 2026, the ICC said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Dela Rosa was criminally responsible as an “indirect co-perpetrator” in the killings.