Days before the Sept. 23 confirmation of charges hearing, Vice President Sara Duterte announced that the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) detention unit has barred visitors of former President Rodrigo Duterte from providing public updates about the situation inside the facility.
Speaking on Monday, Sept. 1, the Vice President said she’s now only allowed to confirm that her father is well.
“So, from now on, bawal ikuwento kung ano ‘yung mga nangyari sa loob at ano ‘yung mga pinag-usapan sa loob,” she told former presidential spokesman Harry Roque in an interview.
“I can only say na (former) President Duterte is still alive. ‘Yan lang po,” she added.
The younger Duterte shared that they were reminded by the detention unit to strictly follow the conditions of the visit.
“We are not allowed to give updates,” she stressed.
The Vice President has been in The Hague, Netherlands, since last month to visit her father along with her siblings—Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, and Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.
This came after the Duterte patriarch requested to see all of his children together.
Earlier, she shared that her father spoke about their families, politics, and plans for the future.
The former chief executive, who faces charges of crimes against humanity for the thousands of deaths linked to his war on drugs, is set to appear before the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I on Sept. 23 for the confirmation of charges hearing.
It will be the first time since March that the public will see Duterte, who has been detained in The Hague following his arrest at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. (Raymund Antonio)
