ON Monday, Vice President Sara Duterte stated that she is now prohibited from publicly disseminating details of her discussions with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, during her visits to his detention facility in The Hague.
Citing restrictions imposed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention unit, she stated that visitors are now limited to confirming only that he is “still alive.”
This marks a significant change from previous months, where VP Duterte acted as a de facto spokesperson for her father, relaying his messages and providing updates on his life in detention to supporters, particularly during rallies with overseas Filipino workers.
She explained that the detention facility reminded her of the policy against disclosing messages from detainees, limiting her to the most basic update on his well-being.
The restrictions come as Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to face a confirmation of charges hearing on September 23, where ICC judges will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial on charges of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s war on drugs.
The family’s previous public messaging regarding Duterte’s detention had drawn scrutiny from ICC prosecutors, who cited statements claiming he was “kidnapped” by the court as evidence he might flee if released.
