Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly using statements from her family as basis in rejecting the request for interim release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Mayroon bang legal basis na gawin mong basehan sa iyong desisyon ang mga jokes ng tao? Hindi na talaga naaayon sa rason ang kanilang mga rason, kung bakit nagde-deny sila ng mga filings ni former president Duterte,” she said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands.
“Na-cite siya sa ICC… pero para sa akin, hindi naman legal basis for the court to deny based on statements of relatives. Dapat factual ka. Kung anong makita mo sa kaso or sa circumstances surrounding the case, do’n ka lang,” she added.
The Vice President also advised Duterte’s supporters not to rely on the ICC, which she described as a “biased political court.”
“Kung na-prejudge na nila ang kaso ni Rodrigo Duterte, na-prejudge na rin natin ang ICC as a biased political court. Hindi siya court of justice,” Duterte said.
Last year, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I denied Duterte’s request for interim release, citing him as a flight risk. The court referenced a remark by VP Sara suggesting she would help her father escape detention.
On Monday, the ICC maintained that Duterte is “fit” to participate in pre-trial proceedings on charges of crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s war on drugs. The confirmation of charges hearing is set for February 23.