Geline Salac

VP Duterte urges ICC to expedite dad's trial amid detention concerns

Article (news)

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<p>THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Vice President Sara Duterte called on the International Criminal Court to expedite proceedings regarding former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing concerns over his age and health after more than a year in detention.</p><p>Speaking during a visit to The Hague on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Duterte provided updates on her father’s condition, the status of his case, and her views on the current political climate in the Philippines.</p><div><strong>HEALTH CONDITION AND NOVEMBER TRIAL SCHEDULE</strong></div><p>The Vice President confirmed she visited the former president on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. She reported that the 81-year-old former leader is doing well overall, despite dealing with a skin issue.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re trying to ask the health unit of the detention what it is all about. But we appreciate that they did something about it,&quot; Duterte said. </p><p>“I understand there&#x27;s a cream applied on the skin, on the skin rash. I really don&#x27;t know what it is. So other than that, the usual aches and pains of an 81-year-old man and well yes, there&#x27;s no complaints right now about the weather because it&#x27;s not really cold here.”</p><p>Addressing the legal proceedings, Duterte noted that the trial is scheduled for November, though her family had hoped for a sooner date given that he has been held for a year and four months without a trial or talk of pending release. She called &quot;this is too far along for us.&quot;</p><p>Following recent changes at the ICC, including the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/7/25/icc-prosecutor-karim-khan-removed-over-serious-misconduct-0848">removal of the chief prosecutor,</a> Duterte expressed hope that the tribunal would uphold the presumption of innocence and speed up the timeline.</p><p>She pleaded with court officials to accelerate the process, stating that her father &quot;cannot afford to stay in detention for 3, 4, 5 years more.&quot;</p><div><strong>OBJECTIONS TO DETENTION AND CONCERNS OVER PROLONGED STAY</strong></div><p>Duterte reiterated her family&#x27;s strong opposition to how her father was brought into ICC custody, describing his removal from the country as unlawful while stating they are trying to support the legal process now that he is under ICC jurisdiction.</p><p>&quot;We are angry. The moment that he was taken, was kidnapped from the Philippines, and we are still angry now,&quot; she said, while questioning the objectivity of ICC officials.</p><p>“But of course, as a daughter, as Filipinos, we have feelings about how objective the ICC and the officials, people inside the ICC is about the case. And of course, we feel that there was really an injustice with how he was taken from our country,” she added. </p><p>She acknowledged discussing the possibility of her father passing away while in custody, sharing that he has already given instructions in the event of his death in prison. </p><p>“There is always a possibility that he will pass inside the prison and that is something that I already discussed with President Duterte. That is why he gave his... instructions in case he dies in prison. But of course, as a Filipino, as a daughter, we want him to die in Philippine soil,” she said.</p><p>However, she emphasized her wish for him to return home.</p><p>&quot;Free him now. Free Duterte now. Bring him home,&quot; she added.</p><div><strong>COMMENTS ON DOMESTIC INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNANCE</strong></div><p>When asked about current corruption investigations in the Philippines and their potential connection to the ICC case, Duterte voiced skepticism regarding the administration&#x27;s willingness to investigate top officials.</p><p>“Unfortunately now… there is nowhere we can go because the administration of course controls all the institutions of government and the investigation will really rely on their sincerity with regard to finding out who the real culprits are, who the masterminds are, and right now we are not seeing that situation,” she said.</p><p>She stated that the national administration controls government institutions and claimed there is a lack of sincerity in identifying key perpetrators. Duterte called for an impartial inquiry into corruption issues, specifically regarding flood control funds and alleged connections to former Senator Antonio Trillanes and ICC investigators.</p><p>“We fully hope that there will be a sincere and impartial investigation with regard to the corruption especially to the flood control issue and how it relates to some of those funds that went to allegedly Trillanes and of course to the ICC investigators. This is something that the Philippine government should suppose to look into but as we see now they&#x27;re not really hearing it and they&#x27;re setting it aside,” she explained.</p><p>She noted that individuals named in affidavits related to these matters are currently filing perjury cases against those who executed the statements.</p><p>“In fact, the people mentioned in the affidavits are filing perjury cases against the individuals who executed the affidavits,” she added.</p><p>Reflecting on the situation, Duterte stated: &quot;If it is not human justice, then it will be definitely divine justice.&quot;</p><div><strong>MESSAGE TO OVERSEAS FILIPINOS</strong></div><p>Closing her statement, Vice President Duterte addressed overseas Filipinos, thanking them for their continued trust and support for her office, as well as their prayers for her father&#x27;s release</p><p>“Maraming salamat sa patuloy yung nasuporta at pagtitiwala sa akin at sa aking kasamahan sa office of the Vice President. At syempre, nagpapasalamat ako sa pagdarasal ninyo para kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. At sa inyong magdarasal na siya ay makalaya na at makauwi na sa Pilipinas. sa inyong pagdarasal para sa ating bayan. Maraming salamat sa inyo. Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong magmamahal. Mabuhay kayo,” she concluded. </p><div><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/vOIQATLs-O0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><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/bIICRw8kFsU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte called on the International Criminal Court to expedite proceedings regarding former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing concerns over his age and health after more than a year in detention.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte called on the International Criminal Court to expedite proceedings regarding former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing concerns over his age and health after more than a year in detention.