Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should be held responsible for the arrest and international transfer of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a GMA Integrated News, Duterte questioned why multiple government agencies—including the justice department, interior department, Philippine National Police, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group—acted on the arrest. She claimed that such a coordinated move would not be possible without the President’s approval.
“Dapat talaga managot ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas,” she said, stressing that Marcos allegedly allowed a foreign body to undermine national sovereignty.
She pointed to what she described as a “rendition,” referring to the former president’s extraction from the Philippines to face charges abroad, which she insists could only have proceeded with the President’s go-ahead.
While President Marcos cannot be sued during his term under the law, his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, had earlier filed a report with the Office of the Ombudsman asking for an investigation into several officials, including the Remulla brothers, PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, and Special Envoy Markus Lacanilao.
Vice President Duterte maintained that these agencies wouldn’t have acted without direct instruction from the top, unless the President was already incapacitated and unaware of the developments.
Adding to the controversy, Duterte said she anticipates continued political attacks, including her own impeachment trial and a fresh case filed against her brother, Rep. Paolo Duterte. “Hindi talaga titigil hanggang hindi ako makulong or mamatay,” she remarked, calling such moves acts of desperation.
Malacañang has yet to issue a response as of posting.
President Marcos previously denied any orchestrated plan by his administration to target the Duterte family, saying the arrest was merely the government fulfilling its obligation to Interpol and international law.
Rodrigo Duterte, now 80, is currently in detention at The Hague facing crimes against humanity charges for his bloody anti-drug campaign.
