Vice President Sara Duterte said former President Rodrigo Duterte has already given instructions in the event he dies while under detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying the possibility has already been discussed within their family.
Speaking in an interview released by the Office of the Vice President, Duterte said there is always the possibility that the former president could die while in detention if the legal proceedings are prolonged.
“That is why he gave his instructions in case he dies in prison,” she said. Duterte did not disclose the contents of those instructions.
She said that despite the possibility, the family continues to hope the former president will return to the Philippines.
“But of course, as a Filipino, as a daughter, we want him to die in Philippine soil,” Duterte said.
At the end of the interview, the vice president renewed her appeal for the former president’s release.
“Free him now. Free Duterte now. Bring him home,” she said.
Duterte also provided an update on the former president’s condition, saying she had visited him several times in The Hague and that he is “doing okay” despite a skin condition. She said detention health personnel have been treating the condition with cream and that, aside from the skin problem, he is experiencing only the usual aches and pains of an 81-year-old.
She added that the former president has not complained about the weather in The Hague because it is currently not very cold.
