Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte on Wednesday reflected on the day his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and brought to The Hague, Netherlands, calling it a moment marked by political vengeance rather than gratitude.
“For our family, it was not merely a political event. It was the day a father was taken away from his children and grandchildren. It was the day a man who spent his life fighting crime, protecting communities, and serving the Filipino people was removed from the very nation he fought for. What makes this moment even more painful is the bitter truth behind it,” Paolo Duterte said in a social media post.
The congressman referenced his father’s decision to allow the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, describing it as an act of reconciliation. He argued, however, that instead of recognition, his father faced humiliation.
“But the Filipino people are not blind, and they are not forgetful. They remember who stood firm against criminals and drug syndicates when others were too afraid to act. They remember who fought for ordinary Filipinos when the elites mocked and opposed him. And they remember who turned their backs when power and political survival were at stake,” he added.
Paolo Duterte emphasized the significance of March 11 as a reminder of betrayal and persecution, stressing that accountability will eventually follow.
“March 11 is not just a date. It is a reminder. A reminder of loyalty repaid with betrayal. Of service answered with persecution. And of a nation that will one day demand accountability from those who allowed this injustice to happen. The Filipino people will remember. And history will judge,” he said.