Sara Duterte slams ‘disturbing’ AFP ‘silence’ on ex-president’s arrest
Vice President Sara Duterte addresses people gathering outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, on March 14, 2025. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday described as “disturbing” what she perceived as the “silence” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regarding the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The vice president expressed her sentiments during a virtual appearance at the Senate hearing investigating the arrest warrant issued against the former president.
She had previously criticized the police, alleging that they forcibly took her father into custody.
READ: Sara Duterte decries ‘warrantless arrest’ of father at Senate probe
But she stressed that “even more disturbing is the silence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
INQUIRER.net contacted AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla for comment, but she has yet to respond as of posting.
The vice president continued: “Why did the AFP stand idly by when a former commander in chief was taken from a military base under questionable circumstances?”
Duterte was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday, March 11 and, on the same day, was detained at the Villamor Air Base, the Philippine Air Force’s headquarters.
The ICC issued the warrant for alleged crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s drug war, which, according to official government data, claimed at least 6,000 lives.
READ: ICC still has jurisdiction over individuals — Remulla to Imee Marcos
Human rights watchdogs and the International Criminal Court prosecutor estimated the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019. They said several of these incidents were extrajudicial killings.
On March 12, Duterte arrived in The Hague, where he is currently being held.
The former president had his pretrial hearing on March 14, while his confirmation of charges is scheduled for September 23. He he may appeal for an interim release before that date.
