Rowegie Abanto

Article (news)

Contributed photo 

 

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17731974094911773197408716.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A year into Duterte arrest, Sara still insists father Rodrigo was &#x27;kidnapped&#x27;. <em>Contributed photo/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday insisted that her father Rodrigo Duterte was &quot;kidnapped&quot; by the Marcos administration a year ago to be transferred to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the International Criminal Court sits.</div><p>The former President is<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9xZxZcoWss"> facing possible ICC trial</a> for alleged crimes against humanity over his brutal war on drugs campaign and alleged killings of the Davao Death Squad.</p><p>In a statement observing the anniversary of her father&#x27;s arrest, the Vice President said his capture on March 11, 2025, was &quot;extraordinary rendition&quot; or &quot;kidnapping.&quot;</p><p>The Duterte family and their supporters have put forward that claim since the 80-year-old former leader was arrested last year.</p><p>&quot;Ang naganap na extraordinary rendition o kidnapping kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay isang seryosong paalala na ang batas ay hindi dapat ginagamit bilang sandata para sa pulitika o personal na interes,&quot; the younger Duterte said.</p><p>(The extraordinary rendition or kidnapping of former President Rodrigo Duterte is a serious reminder that laws should not be weaponized for political or personal interest.)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/9/pnp-monitors-calls-for-motorcade-rally-on-duterte-arrest-anniversary-1937">PNP monitors calls for motorcade rally on Duterte arrest anniversary</a></div><p>The former President&#x27;s arrest and transfer to the ICC detention center was a culmination of the falling-out of former running mates President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte, who now faces <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/4/house-panel-sara-duterte-impeachment-complaint-sufficient-in-substance-1403">another impeachment threat</a> under the current administration.</p><p>The Vice President also cast her father&#x27;s arrest as a sovereignty issue, saying a genuine independent country is run by institutions free from external intervention or command.</p><p>The Duterte defense team and his family have repeatedly insisted that the ICC no longer has jurisdiction over the former President because the Philippines had already withdrawn from the Rome Statute that created the tribunal.</p><p>The<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/17/icc-appeals-chamber-orders-new-filings-in-duterte-jurisdiction-appeal-0741"> ICC appeals chamber has yet to decide </a>on an appeal questioning the court&#x27;s jurisdiction over the former leader.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;GALIT ANG MGA TAO&#x27;</strong></div><p>In a chance interview after attending mass at the San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City, Duterte asserted that the public is still enraged about her father&#x27;s arrest, and insisted it will not die down anytime soon.</p><p>&quot;It is unthinkable that a government, no matter the political differences with the administration, would send a citizen to a foreign jurisdiction to be detained and tried for crimes against humanity,&quot; Duterte said.</p><p>&quot;So, galit ang mga tao. Isang taon na sila galit at hindi huhupa ‘yung galit hanggang hindi mabalik dito sa Pilipinas si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,&quot; he added.</p><p>The Vice President said they will take all opportunities to apply for an interim release for her father.</p><p>&quot;Napag-usapan namin ng abogado ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na every time mayroong opportunity na mag-apply ng interim release ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay gagawin yun. Kahit pa man ide-deny yun. At alam natin na ide-deny yun kahit pa man anong gawin natin,&quot; she said.</p><p>Duterte likewise lambasted the Senate&#x27;s hesitancy to investigate the corruption exposed allegedly by the 18 ex-marines.</p><p>&quot;Well, mag-iisang taon na rin yan, ma&#x27;am. Simula nung sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na, &#x27;Mahiya naman kayo.&#x27; Mag-iisang taon na yan. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin nananagot sa flood control scandal, sa katiwalian na nangyari sa 2023, 2024, at 2025 budget,&quot; she said.</p><p>Supporters of the Duterte family trooped to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, urging the justices to decide on the consolidated petitions for a writ of habeas corpus.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/11/padilla-duterte-supporters-urge-sc-to-decide-on-legality-of-icc-arrest-1513">Padilla, Duterte supporters urge SC to decide on legality of ICC arrest</a></div><p>Ex-congressman Mike Defensor, former Communication Secretary Trixie Angeles, as well as lawyer Ferdinand Topacio attended the rally.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PULONG: DUTERTE ARREST WAS &#x27;BETRAYAL&#x27;</strong></div><p>Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo &quot;Pulong&quot; Duterte in a separate statement accused the Marcos government of &quot;betrayal&quot; and choosing &quot;political vengeance over gratitude&quot; when it arrested his father a year ago.</p><p>&quot;It was my father who allowed the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to finally be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani—a decision he made in the spirit of reconciliation, healing, and respect for history,&quot; Paolo Duterte said.</p><p>&quot;History will remember how that act of goodwill was repaid.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/10/imee-seeks-full-disclosure-of-gov-t-cooperation-with-icc-in-duterte-case-1334">Imee seeks full disclosure of gov’t cooperation with ICC in Duterte case</a></div><p>The lawmaker also said that the country would &quot;one day demand accountability from those who allowed this injustice to happen.&quot;</p><p>The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the legality of the Marcos government&#x27;s arrest of the former president.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/duterte-at-the-icc">Duterte at ICC: News and Updates</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w9xZxZcoWss?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HQ0qYIxmdm4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday insisted that her father Rodrigo Duterte was "kidnapped" by the Marcos administration to be transferred to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the International Criminal Court sits.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday insisted that her father Rodrigo Duterte was "kidnapped" by the Marcos administration to be transferred to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the International Criminal Court sits.

A year into Duterte arrest, Sara still insists father Rodrigo was 'kidnapped'

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A year into Duterte arrest, Sara still insists father Rodrigo was 'kidnapped'

Rowegie Abanto,

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 11, 2026 10:59 AM PHT

|

Updated March 11, 2026 04:35 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

International Criminal Court

ICC

Sara Duterte

Pulong Duterte

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