VP Duterte to seek access to father in The Hague amid ICC arrest

Vice President Sara Duterte —Inquirer file photo/Lyn Rillon

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte will meet with lawyers in The Hague Netherlands and seek access to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, following his International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest for alleged crimes against humanity over deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he oversaw while in office.

According to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in an advisory, VP Duterte will be “meeting with lawyers and seeking access” to her father upon her arrival in The Hague, where the ICC is headquartered.

READ: EXPLAINER: What’s next after arrest of Rodrigo Duterte?

The OVP earlier said that the vice president left the Philippines at around 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning via Emirates flight no. EK 337 bound for Amsterdam, Netherlands.

READ: Palace issued VP Sara Duterte Netherlands travel authority – PCO

It has yet to confirm, however, whether Sara has already arrived in The Hague.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, already landed at the Rotterdam The Hague airport at around 4:55 p.m. (11:55 p.m. Philippine time) on a chartered plane.

The ICC itself has also confirmed taking custody of the elder Duterte.

READ: ICC cites reasonable grounds in issuing arrest order for Duterte

It was only on Tuesday, March 7 when Duterte was arrested and flown to The Hague. His infamous war against drugs left at least 6,000 people dead, with human rights groups reporting at least 20,000.