Sara Duterte Reveals Dad Rodrigo Initially Asked Lawyers To Set him Free for Oath Taking as Davao Mayor

Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Visits Dad Rodrigo in The Hague, Netherlands

SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President who is now in The Hague spoke on the oath taking of her father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte won mayor of Davao City despite his detention in The Hague for more than two (2) months now. It was last March 11 when the former Chief Executive was arrested by the Philippine authorities.

On the same day that he was arrested upon his arrival from Hong Kong, Duterte was detained at Villamor Air Base for several hours. Before the day ended, he was flown to The Hague, Netherlands via Dubai.

Duterte is faced with an allegation of crimes against humanity before the ICC over his administration’s war on drugs. He repeatedly claimed that what he did during his term as president was for the Philippines and the Filipino people.

In the 2025 Midterm Elections, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte ran for mayor with outgoing Mayor Baste Duterte, his youngest son, as his running mate. Both the elder Duterte and mayor Baste won the elections.

In fact, Davao First District Congressman Paolo Duterte was also reelected in the city. His son, Omar, will join him in the House of Representatives after winning as Davao Second District Representative.

Congressman Pulong’s other son, Rigo, also won as a councilor in Davao City. If Vice Mayor-elect Baste Duterte will be the acting mayor of the city, Rigo will be the acting vice mayor since he is the number one councilor of the city.

Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s children and grandchildren previously had a family meeting following the multiple wins of several of their family members in the elections. Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, and their mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, flew to The Hague to visit the former President.

Speaking in front of the Filipinos outside the ICC detention facility, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and his lawyers are talking about his oath taking as the new Davao mayor. According to the Vice President, her father initially told his lawyers to set him free so he can take his oath.

“Pag-usapan daw nila ng lawyers niya [oath-taking]… Pero, initially, ang sinabi niya, ‘ Set me free and I will take an oath’,” the Vice President said based on a post of Marilou TagaBohol on Facebook.

Previously, the Department of Interior and Local Government or DILG said that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has to be physically present in office to perform his duties as Davao mayor. His camp has until June 30 for his oath taking.