VP Sara: ICC should respect Duterte’s rights, send him back

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June 2, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — If the International Criminal Court (ICC) is all about upholding human rights, then it should also respect the rights of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte and send him home, Vice President Sara Duterte insisted on Saturday.

Speaking before supporters gathered in The Hague for her birthday, Sara maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the crimes against humanity case her father is facing.

“They (ICC) were the ones that said that everyone has a human right. So they should also accord human rights to (former) president Rodrigo Duterte, and for him to be sent back to the Philippines,” Sara said.

She added that the local courts should also determine if the older Duterte’s turnover and detention at The Hague was legal.

“The Court should not turn a blind eye because they (ICC) have no jurisdiction over the case,” Sara said.

Ahead of Father’s Day on June 15, the Vice President hoped that the detained ex-leader, who will be celebrating the occasion this year behind bars, is proud of his children.

“We thank him for his generosity to us and we thank him for the time that we have with him in the detention center where he is just a regular, normal human being and not the mayor or the president,” she said.