Vice President Sara Duterte revealed that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, has entered a period of quiet contemplation as legal proceedings against him continue at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
In an interview released by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Thursday, May 7, the Vice President shared insights from her May 6 visit with the former leader in the Netherlands.
She noted that their conversation steered away from politics, focusing instead on deep philosophical inquiries regarding faith and existence.
“Okay lang. Okay ang visit. Ang pinag-usapan namin is about God and the universe and whether or not may God in relation to the universe,” the Vice President said.
She characterized the former president’s current disposition as neither celebratory nor despondent, but rather deeply reflective while facing allegations connected to his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
“He’s not joyous. He’s not sad. Siguro because of the quiet reflection about God and the universe and whether or not merong Diyos o wala. Medyo, subdued, that’s the term,” the Vice President shared.
While the former president did not provide a specific statement for the public, he reportedly mused on the spiritual implications of the cosmos.
“Wala siyang specific kasi hindi ko rin siya natanong kanina kung may message siya pero sabi lang niya na gusto ko lang i-share ‘yung nasabi niya kanina na — you cannot talk about the universe without thinking if there is a God or not,” she added.
The former leader is currently contending with firm opposition from ICC prosecutors, who have urged judges to dismiss his appeal against the confirmation of charges involving alleged extrajudicial killings during his tenures as Mayor of Davao City and President of the Philippines.