Leaving the Netherlands is not an option for Vice President Sara Duterte at the moment, as she intends to stay until another family member arrives to ensure her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is not left alone.
During an appearance to the media on Friday, Sara revealed her father had repeatedly urged her to return to the Philippines during their one-hour visit from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CET).
“I will not leave until a relative comes to make sure there is a next of kin,” said the younger Duterte, also facing an upcoming impeachment trial in the Philippines.
Only allowed to meet her father in the ICC’s visiting area and not inside the detention facility, she assured the public the former president was in “good spirit.”
“He is well taken care of. He just commented that he really misses Filipino food, that’s all. Very recently their meal had rice, so that was a good development,” Sara said.
Despite the short visitation period, the Vice President said they were able to discuss key matters, including legal preparations, their family, and the state of the country. However, she noted that they did not discuss his initial ICC appearance.
“When we talked, as a request, he asked me to go home. He repeatedly said, ‘Do not leave the country. Do not leave the Philippines,'” Sara said.
“He said I should already go back and leave him here. But I said I cannot immediately go back because no one will decide for him outside. Very limited people have access to him right now,” she added.
The Vice President confirmed that arrangements are already underway to grant family members access to her father and that she is working on assembling his legal team while in the Netherlands.
“So I told him that I just have to form that legal team, then I can work remotely in the Philippines talking to the legal team. And then, yes, they just need the next of kin to come here. And everyone’s applying for a visa right now,” Sara said.
Malacañang previously confirmed the Vice President was granted travel authority until April 30 for multiple entries into different countries