Vice President Sara Duterte once again launched a scathing attack against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., her former political ally, during a speech before supporters in The Hague, Netherlands.
In her address, Duterte accused Marcos of conspiring with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to secure the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the ICC detention facility in The Hague over charges of crimes against humanity linked to his bloody war on drugs.
“Ano sabi nila? 30,000 dead. Nagsimula sila sa 12,000. Umakyat sila sa 15,000. Umakyat sila sa 30,000. Lahat ng mga namatay—DDS. Pero kung hingin mo sa kanila ang listahan, walang listahan ng 30,000. At anong lumabas sa charges nila? 43 counts of murder. Kaduda-duda pa yung ibang sinasabi ng mga biktima dahil hindi masabi, yung totoo na sila ay biktima ng EJK,” she said.
Despite the limited charges, Duterte claimed that the ICC still pushed for her father’s arrest because of collusion with the Marcos administration.
“Alam ng ICC na ganyan ang estado ng kaso, pero pinilit pa rin nilang kunin si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Hindi na nila makuha yun eh. Pero ano nangyari? Binigay siya ng administrasyon ni Marcos. Ginamit, nagkuntsaba ang ICC at ang administrasyon ni BBM. Gamitan tayo dito. Kailangan nyo ng kaso. Kailangan namin palayasin yan dito kasi talong-talo na kami sa politika,” she added.
Duterte also emphasized that even if President Marcos is ousted or finishes his term, her father cannot return to the Philippines until the charges are dismissed.
“Pero kahit man mapalayas natin ang adik na Presidente natin, hindi niya—hindi natin mapapabalik si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” she said.
She concluded by calling on her supporters to focus on two goals: to have her father’s case dismissed and to seek political change.
“So dalawang bagay lang po ‘yun, kailangan natin mapa-dismiss ang kaso ni Pangulong Duterte at pabalik siya sa Pilipinas, at iba po yung bagay na meron tayong galit at meron tayong kagustuhan na palayasin o patalsikin ang ating Presidente ngayon.”