Duterte’s humour shines through despite detention in The Hague

Manila: Former president Rodrigo Duterte, who remains in detention in The Hague while awaiting International Criminal Court (ICC) trial for crimes against humanity, is open to exploring legal remedies under Dutch domestic law to seek his release, according to her daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a video released by the Office of the Vice President, Sara Duterte shared that it was former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who raised the possibility of invoking Dutch legal provisions.

“I can do that while I’m back in the Philippines, I will work on it online,” the Vice President said.

In the May 12 midterm elections, Duterte won the mayorship of Davao City by a landslide.

On May 30, Vice President Duterte and her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, visited the former president in The Hague for the second time since his arrest. 

The visit lasted an hour-and-a-half.

During the meeting, she said she only updated her father with developments that were “allowed by our lawyers,” stressing that they have “no privileged information.”

Challenge to ICC

She emphasised that all the information she shared was “public knowledge,” including the efforts to challenge the ICC’s jurisdiction over the former president.

“And now there is a provision under the Rome Statute, we are also working on the interim release,” Duterte said.

Arrest after Hong Kong visit

The former president was arrested on May 11 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after Duterte and his family flew back from Hong Kong. 

Roughly 12 hours later, he was flown by private jet to the ICC headquarters in The Hague to face charges.

Vice President Duterte also recounted asking her father for a message to his supporters, who have been gathering daily outside to show their support.

“I asked him his message (to his supporters) as I told him that every day, his supporters are waiting outside… and then he said, ‘Tell them I am eternally grateful for your showing of support and I recognise your sacrifice which you do not have to do so you can now go home,’” she said.

Their conversation also touched on personal matters.

“He asked about the family members… He asked, ‘Where is (Davao Rep.) Paolo (Duterte), what he is doing?’ and next he mentioned Kitty,” she said.

“He saw the billboard of Kitty in Manila… and he was proud, proud of it,” she added.

The former president also inquired about his long-time partner. 

“He even asked my mother if she knows Honeylet Avanceña, and then my mother replied that she does know Honeylet,” the Vice President shared.

Humour in detention

When asked about his health and whether he was struggling with sleep, Duterte responded with a touch of humour. “Sometimes I cannot sleep because I think of your mother,” he quipped.

“His style of sweet talk with beautiful women remains,” Sara remarked.

Avanceña is expected to arrive in The Hague, while Vice President Duterte and her brother, Davao Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, are scheduled to return to Manila.

The Vice President also informed her father about the gathering of supporters in The Hague on May 31 — which coincided with her 47th birthday — held as part of the campaign to bring him home.

“I gave a rundown of the speakers. Baste was there, Senator Imee (Marcos), senator-elect Dante Marcoleta, Sen. Robin Padilla, spokesperson Harry Roque, attorney Vic Rodriguez,” she said.

“We had 10 speakers and many people attended and showed their support… It was mixed feelings as we gathered because President Duterte is detained, but I am so happy as Filipinos gathered for a single cause, and that is requesting ICC to send PRRD (former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) home,” she added.