Vice President Sara Duterte has chosen to remain silent regarding the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) denial of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release.
During her visit to Mati City, Davao Oriental on Saturday, the Vice President said she preferred to withhold her comment on the matter out of respect for those affected by the recent earthquakes.
“I-hold ko na lang muna ma’am ‘yung comment ko dito sa ICC case. Kailangan muna nating maki-empathize sa mga nabiktima ng lindol at mag-sympathize sa mga namatayan. Mamaya ko na lang sasagutin at bibigyan ng komento ang ICC at iba pang issues,” Duterte stated.
She also declined to give details about her father’s current condition, emphasizing that her priority for now is the welfare of disaster victims.
“Sige, unahin na muna natin siguro ‘yung mga biktima ng mga sakuna. Sa ngayon, bigay ko ‘yung mga comments ko sa mga susunod na araw,” she added.
On Friday, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I released its decision rejecting former President Duterte’s appeal for temporary release, ruling that he will remain in detention.
The former president has been in the ICC detention center since March 11 over charges of crimes against humanity linked to his controversial war on drugs.
One of the reasons cited by the ICC in its decision was Vice President Sara Duterte’s previous remarks criticizing the tribunal.