Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Family’s Unity Now, Gratitude for Sister Kitty
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President shared she told her father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, that their family has never been more united until his trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
After the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and the move for the transfer of his custody to the ICC, Vice Pres. Duterte immediately flew to The Hague, Netherlands to support her father. The elder Duterte is now under a regular detention after he was released from the hospital wing of the detention facility.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is hoping that she will be able to set the legal team of her father before she returns to the Philippines. According to her, the former President wants her to immediately return to the country.
The legal team of the former President is set to be led by British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. Duterte’s legal team excludes Harry Roque and Salvador Medialdea contrary to the previous claim of the former presidential spokesman.
Prior to the 80th birthday of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the former President’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter, Kitty, arrived in The Hague. His birthday was celebrated by countless Duterte supporters not only in the country but as well as abroad.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Honeylet Avanceña, and Kitty Duterte were able to visit former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte together in the ICC detention facility. Based on a report on GMA News, the Vice President arrived at the facility earlier than Honeylet and Kitty who were seen running towards the entrance of the facility when they arrived.
According to Kitty, they ran to really make it to enter to the ICC detention facility on time and be able to maximize their time with her father. The foreign court is strict when it comes to visitation of the suspects.
Kitty Duterte shared that they only talk about positive things to former Pres. Duterte. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said she is happy to have a sister as she jested that she has someone to scold. According to her, growing up, she did not have one but now she has.
The Vice President also shared that former Pres. Duterte is happy to see them. Based on the report, she also told her father about their family’s different level of unity now.
“He is really happy to see us. As I have told him, the family has never been more united, not just with us siblings, but with everyone else in the family,” Vice Pres. Duterte said.
According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, her brothers, Paolo and Baste, are also set to visit former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in The Hague. Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte told Pres. Bongbong Marcos that he will never be loved.