Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte believes he has no case to answer at the International Criminal Court and is confident he has a strong legal argument, Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday.
The vice president, who is still in the The Hague, told reporters her father was now in better health after appearing fatigued and dazed at his first hearing at the ICC.
“He’s very confident about the legal arguments. He’s very confident… that what they did was wrong and there is no case to begin with,” Duterte said.
The Vice President said her father continues to ask her about the timelines and legal strategies of his legal defense team.
She told scores of supporters gathered in Het Malieveld at the city center of The Hague, Netherlands to continue calling on the ICC and the Philippine government to send her father back home.
“Isa yan sa paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi, kelan mo ako mapapalabas dito? Dahil malapit na ang eleksyon, mag mayor pa ako ng siyudad ng Davao,” Duterte said before a crowd chanting “Bring him home! Bring him home!”
The 79-year-old former president faces a charge of crimes against humanity tied to his “war on drugs” in which thousands were killed.
He is currently in a detention center in The Hague, awaiting a confirmation of charges hearing on September 23, where he will have the opportunity to contest the accusations against him.
The Vice President, who saw him on Saturday, said “He feels better now and thankfully the doctors and the nurses are taking good care of him.”
She had previously revealed that her father’s main complaint was the Dutch food served in the center.
“He’s getting rice. That’s what we asked for and it’s cooked perfectly. Correct according to Filipino taste,” said Sara Duterte.
He was asking for his personal clothes and a supply of diet cola, she said.
EARLY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Supporters numbering in the thousands, according to organizers, said they came from as far as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden, Italy, the United Kingdom, and other countries in Europe to The Hague to show their support for the ex-president.
“I came all the way from Germany. Nandito kami hindi kami bayad to show our support kasi hindi deserve ni former President Rodrigo Duterte na ikulong dito sa Netherlands,” said Geraldine Klein.
“Worth it pagpunta namin dito. Masaya kaming makita si Vice President Sara Duterte..magpagaling si Tatay Digong lakas lang ng loob, iuwi namin siya,” said Marife Vanderborght from Belgium.
Rosa Cabrilles, a Filipino living in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, gave early birthday greetings to Duterte who is spending his 80th birthday at the ICC detention facility in Scheveningen on March 28, Friday.
“Happy birthday ‘tay Digong and be strong malalagpasan po natin ang laban,” she said. With AFP
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Duterte confident has ‘no case’ to answer at ICC—VP Sara.”