Vice President Sara Duterte revealed that at least one country has expressed willingness to host former President Rodrigo Duterte if the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) pre-trial chamber grants his application for interim release.
Speaking before the Filipino community in Japan over the weekend, Duterte said she personally handled the negotiation with this country, citing a lack of trust in others to manage the sensitive matter.
“Meron ng isang bansa na nagsabi na okay lang na dito nyo ilagay si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” she shared.
Admittedly, the official said that it took a while before she was able to find a country that would help her family.
“So medyo matagal ‘yun dahil hindi madali makipag-negosasyon sa isang bansa. Pero sabi ko nga dahil sa pagdarasal ninyo, may mga good news na nangyayari,” she added.
Duterte, however, could not disclose which country agreed to host her father. She only clarified that it is not Japan.
The former president’s legal defense team has two pending motions before the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I: the jurisdiction challenge and the interim release application.
The Vice President argued that under the ICC’s rules, her father must be granted interim release.
“Nakalagay po sa batas ng ICC, bakit hindi binibigay ang interim release sa isang akusado? Una, kapag siya ay posibleng magtatago, o mawawala na lang bigla,” she explained.
“Si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte po, ay walang balak magtago,” she stressed.
The official assured that all her father wants to do is return to Davao City and spend the rest of his remaining days there. (Raymund Antonio)
