Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Possible Freeze Order on Assets over Dad’s ICC Case
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President expressed that it will be “harassment” of her family in the Philippines if her assets will be frozen due to the case of her father before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During the detention of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Villamor Air Base last March 11, he was not allowed to see Vice Pres. Duterte. On the same day that the former Chief Executive was arrested, he was flown to Netherlands via Dubai without having to talk to his daughter.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte immediately flew to The Hague, Netherlands to support former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte whose custody was transferred to the International Criminal Court. The ICC issued a warrant against him over the allegations against the war on drugs campaign of his administration.
Currently, VP Sara is still in The Hague as she wants to set the legal team of her father for his ICC trial before going home to the Philippines. The Vice President previously revealed that FPRRD wants her to immediately return to the Philippines.
The Vice President was the only one in their family who has a Schengen Visa and is a lawyer, thus, she was the only one who was able to immediately follow the elder Duterte in The Hague. Meanwhile, days before the 80th birthday of the former President last March 28, Honeylet Avanceña, his common-law wife, and their daughter, Kitty, have arrived in The Hague.
Honeylet and Kitty were able to see Duterte after several attempts. According to Vice Pres. Duterte, her brothers, Paolo and Baste, still have no Visa. Duterte was released from the hospital wing of the ICC detention facility and is now under a regular detention.
Amid the detention of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, there are rumors on the possibility that a freeze order will be issued against the assets of the former President and his immediate family members. To this, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte gave her reaction.
VP Sara Duterte called it a “harassment” of her family in the Philippines in case her assets will be frozen. Based on a report on PhilStar, she stressed that she is not involved in the issue of ICC with her father.
“I have nothing to do with the ICC case. I don’t expect there will be a freezing of my assets, but if there will be freezing of my assets in relation to the ICC case, then that would show again harassment of my family in the Philippines,” Duterte said.
Based on the report, Malacañang stressed that it remains to not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC in the Philippines, thus, it has no legal obligation in case a freeze order will be issued.
However, in case the camp of Duterte will apply for his interim release, Malacañang said the same ground of not recognizing the ICC jurisdiction remains. The government of the home country of the suspect will have to coordinate with the ICC in the process of applying for an interim release.