Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday led tributes marking the 81st birthday of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, thanking supporters and calling for vigilance in defending national sovereignty and the country’s justice system.
In a statement, Duterte expressed gratitude to “parallel support groups, volunteers, and the millions of Filipinos” who organized celebrations to honor the former leader, citing their “unwavering love and loyalty.”
She said the continued support reflects leadership that “truly prioritized the safety and dignity of every Filipino family.”
The vice president also used the occasion to underscore broader political themes, warning against what she described as the “weaponization of the law” and “unconstitutional intrusion of foreign bodies” that could undermine the Philippines’ judicial processes.
“The defense of his rights is a defense of our national sovereignty,” she said, adding that the country’s justice system “must remain independent, serving only the mandate of the Filipino people and never the interests of foreign powers.”
Duterte urged Filipinos to remain resilient amid challenges, calling their strength a source of inspiration for her family.
“Let us continue to defend the dignity of our country,” she said.
The former president, who served as the country’s 16th president from 2016 to 2022, rose to national prominence after more than two decades as mayor of Davao City.
He built a reputation as a tough-talking leader with a hardline stance on crime, which became the centerpiece of his presidential campaign.
During his presidency, Duterte launched a sweeping anti-drug campaign that drew strong domestic support but also widespread international criticism over alleged human rights violations.
Following his presidency, the Duterte patriarch became the subject of an investigation by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign.
In 2025, he was arrested pursuant to an ICC warrant, a move that sparked strong reactions from supporters and critics alike and reignited debate over Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction over international legal bodies.
