Vice President Sara Duterte left Manila on Wednesday morning, March 12, for the Netherlands to coordinate the legal defense of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, following his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his controversial war on drugs.
The Office of the Vice President confirmed that Duterte departed at approximately 7:40 a.m. on Emirates flight EK 337 bound for Amsterdam.
The office stated that further details regarding the Vice President’s trip would be provided as necessary.
On Tuesday night, Sara Duterte announced plans to follow her father to The Hague, where he is set to face trial.
Rodrigo Duterte left Manila at 11:03 pm on a government-chartered flight, stopping in Dubai before continuing to Rotterdam.
Allegations of oppression and persecution
Sara Duterte condemned her father’s arrest as a form of oppression and persecution, asserting that authorities had denied him his fundamental rights.
She also described the case against him as “politically motivated.”
She advised her father to avoid accepting food and water from anyone, expressing concerns about his safety while in detention.
Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest was a huge milestone in the ICC’s investigation into alleged crimes against humanity during his presidency.
Human rights organizations estimate that the drug war claimed up to 30,000 lives, with many victims’ families seeking justice. International observers view his arrest as a crucial step toward accountability.
Marcos’ defense
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the nation late Tuesday night, justifying the decision to send Duterte to The Hague as part of the Philippines’ commitments to international law and Interpol.
Political alliances between Marcos and the Dutertes fractured in June 2024 after Sara Duterte resigned as education secretary amid allegations of fund mismanagement.
The rift widened when the House of Representatives impeached the Vice President in February.
Meanwhile, her Senate impeachment trial is set to begin in late July.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.