Sara Duterte says ICC ordered family to stop giving public updates about father's situation: 'I can only say he’s alive'
Vice President Sara Duterte said the ICC ordered her family to stop giving public updates about the situation of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who's been detained in The Hague since March for alleged crimes against humanity.
"Niremind kami ng [ICC] detention unit na mayroong kailangang sundin na mga conditions sa visit," Duterte said in a Sept. 1 interview outside the international tribunal posted by The Philippine STAR.
"So, from now on, bawal ikuwento kung ano 'yung mga nangyari sa loob at ano 'yung mga pinag-usapan sa loob," she said.
The VP noted that what she can only say to the public is that the elder Duterte is "still alive."
"'Yan lang po. Hanggang doon lang po. Kasi bawal po magbigay ng mga information na pinag-usapan sa loob," she added.
With the elder Duterte's pre-trial hearing slated for Sept. 23, the VP said they're finalizing their schedule to determine the family members who will go to The Hague.
Before the confirmation of charges, she said there will be gatherings of Filipino communities in Japan's Tokyo and Nagoya on Sept. 20 and 21, respectively.
Over the past few months, Duterte has regularly visited her father and joined their family's Filipino supporters in rallies outside the ICC. She was giving them constant updates about the former leader's life while in detention.
The elder Duterte has been at the ICC since March 12.
He was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 following a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC via the International Criminal Police Organization.
He has been accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Rome Statute."
Specifically, he was allegedly involved in the murder of at least 19 persons reported to be drug pushers or thieves who were killed by members of the Davao Death Squad in various locations in or around Davao City between 2011 and 2016, as well as the murder of at least 24 alleged criminals who were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines law enforcement at various locations in the country between 2016 and 2019 during his term as president.
He could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
If the charges against him are confirmed during his pre-trial hearing, it could take months before the case eventually goes on trial. A final judgment may be rendered after years.
