Vice President Sara Duterte said she plans to speak with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, regarding reported calls to replace his legal team ahead of a key “confirmation of charges” hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) next month.
Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview in The Hague, the Netherlands on January 27, the Vice President said she was unable to raise the matter during her recent visit but intends to do so on January 28.
“I will ask that question tomorrow of former President Duterte. I forgot that question kanina,” she said.
Earlier this week, ICC judges ruled that the 80-year-old former leader is medically fit to participate in the February 23 hearing, during which the court will determine whether the prosecution’s case is strong enough to move forward to trial.
VP Sara said her father remains in stable condition while in detention.
“Okay lang siya. ‘Yung topic namin ay ‘yun pa rin, ‘yung mga nawawala sa dagat at pait ba na nararamdaman ng mga pamilya nila. The uncertainty of not knowing what happened to their loved ones,” she said.
Rodrigo Duterte has been detained in The Hague since March 2025 in connection with crimes against humanity charges linked to his administration’s deadly war on drugs.