MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday night denounced the transfer of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to The Hague, Netherlands, calling it an act of “state kidnapping.”
Speaking to reporters, she urged Filipinos to resist what she described as an unjust handover of a Filipino citizen to a foreign court.
“I’m telling you all, Filipinos, don’t allow a fellow Filipino to be taken away by foreigners, especially if it has no legal basis. This is actually some sort of state kidnapping,” Duterte said.
She also linked her father’s arrest to politics, suggesting that it was meant to weaken their political party, PDP-Laban, ahead of the midterm elections.
Duterte Transferred to The Hague After Arrest
The former president was arrested Tuesday morning on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity related to his drug war.
Upon arriving in Manila from Hong Kong, Duterte was taken to Villamor Air Base, where he was placed on a flight to The Hague, home of the ICC and international legal proceedings.
Legal Battle Begins
Duterte’s legal team has petitioned the Supreme Court to order his release, but no ruling has been issued yet.
Sara Duterte, who was denied entry to Villamor Air Base, expressed frustration over the situation.
“If no temporary restraining order is issued, what should I do? Hold onto the airplane’s wheels?” she said.
She maintained that there was “no legal basis” for turning over her father to the ICC, despite the pre-trial chamber’s finding of reasonable grounds that he was “individually responsible for crimes against humanity of murder.”
Marcos: Arrest Was Lawful
Late Tuesday evening, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. addressed the media, stating that Duterte’s arrest and transfer were lawful.
With Duterte now in ICC custody, the Philippines faces a historic legal and political moment, as the case against the former president moves forward on the international stage.