Vice President Sara Duterte has declined to confirm swirling reports that her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, may have been released from detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“I know the answer, but I will not comment as I am not sure if it is allowed on my level,” the Vice President said in a Philstar.com report, adding that questions should be directed to her father’s lawyer, attorney Nicholas Kaufman.
Before departing from The Hague, she reiterated claims that her father had been “forcibly taken and brought” to the Netherlands. The former president was arrested on March 11 and turned over to the ICC in connection with alleged crimes against humanity linked to his controversial anti-drug campaign.
Vice President Duterte also revealed that the ICC had rejected a proposal from an unnamed country to host her father should an interim release be granted. She added that the court remains firm in denying his release, despite arguments citing his age, health condition, and lack of flight risk.
She further asserted that releasing her father would leave the ICC detention center without a single detainee.
