Vice President Sara Duterte shared on Sunday that her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is confident he has no case to answer before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Speaking to reporters, she said her father believes his legal team has strong arguments and insists there was never a case to begin with. The 79-year-old ex-leader is currently detained in The Hague and awaits a hearing on September 23 to determine if charges of crimes against humanity will proceed, stemming from his controversial anti-drug campaign that left thousands dead.
Sara Duterte noted that her father—who appeared disoriented during his first ICC hearing—is now in better health and receiving good care. She mentioned that he’s even managed to secure some comforts, including rice cooked to his liking and a supply of diet cola.
She also addressed a large crowd of Duterte supporters in The Hague, where chants of “bring him home” echoed through Malieveld. Many in the crowd believe Duterte was wrongfully taken to face trial in Europe.
His lawyer, Salvador Medialdea, claimed in court that Duterte was “abducted” and “summarily transported” to The Hague, describing it as “extrajudicial rendition” or “kidnapping.”
Meanwhile, ICC prosecutors argue that Duterte’s drug war amounted to a widespread, systematic attack on civilians, mostly targeting the poor without due process. Families of victims see the proceedings as a path to long-awaited justice, while Duterte loyalists suspect political motives, especially amid tensions with the Marcos administration.