Former President Rodrigo Duterte was “happy” to be reunited with his four children — Sara, Paolo, Sebastian, and Veronica—during their visit to his detention cell at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The visit was made following the former president’s request to see his children together.
This was confirmed by Vice President Sara Duterte herself during an interview on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
She shared that her father told Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, the former president’s only daughter with partner Honeylet Avanceña, last month that he wanted to see them.
“Nagsabi siya kay Veronica, kay Kitty na gusto nya sana na personal n’ya makausap kaming apat na magkakapatid at meron siyang mga sasabihin. So, nag-schedule kami ngayon,” she said.
The Vice President added that they had to follow Veronica’s date of visit because of her school schedule, and that the former president was “happy” to see the four of them together.
“As a father, ‘yun ang message niya…Personal na buhay, buhay ng pamilya at buhay namin sa pulitika,” the official shared.
“Yung mga general topics napag-usapan kanina…Napag-usapan lang kung ano yung mga nangyayari ngayon at ano yung posibleng mangyari bukas, sa susunod na taon,” she added.
She recalled that they were all “happy” earlier to be able to talk with their father and that it was quite “noisy” since there were four of them trying to talk over each other.
“So, na-miss niya yung ganon na discussions na labo-labo, sabay-sabay nagsasalita. At masaya siya na nakabisita kaming apat,” she said.
On her father’s health, Vice President Sara said he is doing well, although nurses are monitoring his blood sugar levels.
“Okay naman siya. Minasahe siya for one and half hours ni Congressman Pulong Duterte,” she said, referring to her brother Paolo.
She added that Paolo massaged their father’s foot, arms, back, and neck.
Nurses advised the family not to bring snacks and allowed only his favorite Coke Zero to help manage his blood sugar. (Raymund Antonio)
