Latest news with #RodrigoDuterte
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
VP Sara hoping Duterte takes oath as mayor as start of term nears
Vice President Sara Duterte is hoping and praying that former President Rodrigo Duterte will take his oath as mayor of Davao City before his new term as local chief executive starts on June 30. In a news conference, Sara Duterte said she didn't know the discussions between her father and his lawyers as regards taking his oath as city mayor. "As a Davaoeño, I hope and pray that he takes his oath because I voted for him, I want him to be mayor of Davao City. That is my prayer, but we do not know what are the discussions between lawyers and former President Duterte," Sara Duterte said. "So we wait if he takes his oath. Or he doesn't take his oath, then we will have a situation where Davao City has an acting mayor," she added. Her brother Baste Duterte was elected vice mayor and will be acting mayor if the former president is unable to take office. The former president is detained in The Hague to face crimes against humanity charges in connection with the killings related to his war on drugs when he was president and when he was mayor of Davao City. Sara Duterte also addressed the Palace's remarks as regards her recent trip to Australia where she attended a rally in support of her father. "Kapag personal siya at walang gamit na pera ng gobyerno, di mo kailangan magreport. Ganoon lang yan kasimple na kailangan ko pa iexplain… Nakakahiya na yung ginagawa nila," Sara Duterte said. "Yung totoo lang, as a Filipino, I am truly embarrassed with what is happening to our country, especially coming from the administration,' she added. (If it is a personal trip and you did not use public funds, you don't need to report. It's that simple but I still had to explain it… What they're doing is so embarrassing. To be honest, as a Filipino, I am truly embarrassed by what is happening to our country, especially coming from the administration.) In response to Malacañang's claims that she was 'disregard[ing] the issue of accountability' in declaring she was a frontrunner for the 2028 presidential elections, Sara Duterte said, "Kapag walang nangyayare sa administrasyon mo at walang ginagawa yung principal o presidente, ang gagawin nila is magtuturo ng ibang tao." "Kapag merong kwestyon sa kawalan ng ginagawa ng administrasyon, ang gagawin nila is magtuturo sa ibang tao para mawala yung mga tanong at para magugulo yung ibang tao. That is a classic political scapegoating,' Sara Duterte said. (If nothing is happening in your administration and the principal or president is not doing anything, what they will do is point to other people. If there are questions on the lack of action from the administration, what they will do is point to other people to lose those questions and confuse other people. That is a classic political scapegoating.) –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Australia turns down hosting Duterte if ICC grants interim release
The Australian government has declined to host former President Rodrigo Duterte should the International Criminal Court (ICC) grant his request for interim release. While it is aware that Duterte applied for interim release to a third unnamed country, Australia is not considering to grant such a request as the matter is best left in the hands of the ICC, GMA News Online learned Friday. In applying for interim release, Duterte's camp previously told the chamber that an undisclosed country has agreed to take in the former president, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his administration's war on drugs. Earlier this week, Vice President Sara Duterte said the former president, her father, is looking at Australia as one of the countries for his possible interim release. Australia is a party to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court. Duterte is currently under ICC custody in The Hague, Netherlands. Meanwhile, the Office of the Prosecutor has asked the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber to deny Duterte's interim release request. The prosecution also denied that any agreement was reached with the defense regarding Duterte's release to the country proposed by the Duterte camp. Further, the prosecution said it agreed under the condition that Duterte would be released to another country. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
ICC had no jurisdiction to arrest former Philippines president – Duterte's daughter (VIDEO)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) was acting outside its jurisdiction when it arrested former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, his daughter Sara Duterte, currently vice president of the Philippines, has told RT. In an interview on Wednesday, Duterte slammed the court for denying her father's petition for interim release and accused the organization of serving political interests rather than justice. Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in March 2025, six years after the Philippines left the ICC, at Manila's international airport. He was extradited to The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign. The ICC has asserted jurisdiction over the case, citing the fact that the Philippines was a member of the court from 2011 to 2019. Duterte has denied all allegations and called the arrest unlawful and 'tantamount to kidnapping.' Speaking to RT Sara Duterte rejected the legitimacy of the court's actions, pointing out that the Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in March 2019 and that the investigation only began two years after that. She has also claimed the number of alleged murders in the ICC case does not even meet the threshold for a crimes against humanity charge. 'The ICC is all about human rights and justice, but we don't see it in the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte,' she said, noting that her father has already been in detention for more than 100 days without bail. She argued that the former president, now 80 years old, is not a flight risk and is in poor health. 'He is at his thinnest,' she said. 'He has no appetite, he is suffering from the cold, and he longs to be with family and familiar faces.' Sara Duterte has claimed the case is politically motivated as her father was preparing to support senatorial candidates critical of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and that his arrest was intended to weaken political opposition. The vice president herself is now also facing an impeachment process, which she said was engineered to block her from running in the 2028 presidential elections. She claimed that President Marcos doesn't want to step down and intends to perpetuate himself and his family in power. WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW.
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Counsel for victims ask ICC to reject Duterte's bid for interim release
"Considering that Mr Duterte has been recently arrested, his interim release would be hard to fathom for the victims who have clearly expressed the view that he should remain in detention at the Court pending the pre-trial proceedings," the counsel for the victims said. The principal counsel of the Office of the Public Counsel for Victims in the International Criminal Court has asked the tribunal to reject former President Rodrigo Duterte's request for interim release. Principal Counsel Paolina Massida's submission came after the Office of the Prosecutor filed a similar request for the ICC to turn down the petition filed by Duterte's defense counsel, Nicholas Kaufman. "Considering that Mr Duterte has been recently arrested, his interim release would be hard to fathom for the victims who have clearly expressed the view that he should remain in detention at the Court pending the pre-trial proceedings," the counsel for the victims said. "For the victims, this is the only way of ensuring that he will face trial. Indeed, victims are extremely concerned with the prospect that Mr Duterte could be released, particularly because there is a real risk that they face threats from the Suspect and his supporters," she added. According to Duterte's request, which Kaufman filed, a country has agreed to take in the former leader, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity in connection with the killings under his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president of the Philippines. The request also said that the prosecution has confirmed its non-opposition to the former president's interim release to the country, yet to be made public, "on the understanding that the terms and conditions set out in Annex A to this filing would be met." However, the ICC prosecution in its comment on Duterte's request said his continued detention was necessary to ensure his appearance during trial, saying that he did not accept the legitimacy of the legal proceedings against him. It cited Duterte's previous remarks against the ICC as well as the petition he filed before the Supreme Court against the cooperation of the Philippine government with the ICC. The prosecution also said that Duterte's counsel and family have claimed that he was kidnapped and vowed to return him to the Philippines. "A victim of a kidnapping is unlikely to return to the custody of the kidnapper if allowed to escape. Mr. Duterte, his family, vocal supporters, and counsel all consider him a victim of kidnapping/abduction," the prosecution said. In an 18-page response, the counsel for the victims opposed Duterte's interim release, saying that his continued detention will 'ensure he does not obstruct or endanger the court's proceedings.' Massida said Duterte still held 'considerable power' and expressed a refusal to collaborate with the ICC. She also said that Duterte's family still held influential positions. His daughter Sara is the country's vice president, while his sons, Baste and Paulo, were recently reelected as Davao City mayor and first district representative, respectively. 'He is still very popular in the Philippines and commands widespread respect and obedience. He is still very popular in the Philippines and commands widespread respect and obedience,' Massida said. 'Therefore, there would be a tangible risk that Mr Duterte, if released, even with conditions, would not return to appear at trial in the event that the charges against him are confirmed,' she added. Duterte is facing crimes against humanity charges before the ICC in connection with the killings under his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president of the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Vice President expressed concerns that the interim release of her father might not be granted. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Sara Duterte concerned Rodrigo's interim release might be rejected
As a daughter, VP Sara Duterte said she is worried that the tribunal will deny her father's release, considering his physical state. (Screenshot from Inday Sara FB Page) Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday expressed concerns that the interim release of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, might not be granted, following the petition of the Office of the Prosecutor in the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the tribunal. The Vice President said that she has not yet read the recent request by the prosecution for the chamber to reject the defense's call for Rodrigo Duterte's interim release. As a daughter, she said she is worried that the tribunal will deny her father's release, considering his physical state. 'As a daughter, I am concerned that he will not be granted interim release. He is 80 years old, he is not in good health, he's not been eating well and he needs support from familiar people and he needs the care of his family and loved ones,' she said. The Vice President, who is also a lawyer, also questioned the purpose of the provision on the interim release if it would simply be denied to the accused. The prosecution argued that Rodrigo Duterte's continued detention is necessary to ensure his appearance during trial, saying that he does not accept the legitimacy of the legal proceedings against him. It noted the former president's previous remarks against the ICC as well as the petition he filed before the Supreme Court against the cooperation of the Philippine government with the ICC. The prosecution further said that Rodrigo Duterte's allies and family members remain in positions of power. It specifically mentioned VP Sara, noting that the vice president made clear that she views his detention as illegitimate. Rodrigo's release also poses a risk to the ongoing investigation due to the possible opportunity to intimidate or threaten witnesses, as he appears to still wield considerable power, according to the prosecution. Sara Duterte, in response, emphasized that her power and authority as the Vice President do not extend beyond Philippine shores. 'I do not understand the reasoning behind opposing the interim release because of the position of the daughter. Because right now, he is not in interim release. He is detained in the ICC detention unit pero Vice President pa rin ako [but I'm still the VP],' she said. The Duterte patriarch is facing a crimes against humanity case before the ICC over his administration's drug war. Though he is currently under ICC custody, his camp has sought his release to an undisclosed country. In their request, Rodrigo Duterte's camp argued that the former president is not a flight risk. They also cited humanitarian considerations for the interim release, saying that Duterte is already 80 years old. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
