Sara Duterte hits Marcos gov’t for ICC ‘welfare checks’ on her father

Former President Rodrigo Duterte (L) and VIce President Sara Duterte. | PHOTOS: Screengrab from ICC and official Facebook page of Inday Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration of endangering the life of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC), by conducting welfare checks without their family’s consent.

In a statement, Duterte said “the Philippine Embassy in The Hague clearly abused the rule of the detention unit concerning consular visits,” adding that she was informed the report on the visit was submitted to President Marcos.

“These are nothing but orders of President Marcos disguised as consular functions, and we strongly object to such visits. FPRRD does not need you, our family will take care of him,” the vice president said.

READ: ICC releases details of charges vs Rodrigo Duterte

“Since the month of March, there has always been at least a family member or two [who] visit former President Duterte almost every day, precisely to guarantee his well-being and humane treatment,” she added.

Duterte said, “The permission given by the ICC in allowing the agents of the very government that abducted [former President Rodrigo Duterte] to intrude upon him, without seeking permission from family members who are in the Hague, places his life and safety in imminent danger.”

She warned that the ICC and the Philippine government will be held accountable for whatever happens to her father if the “sham” welfare checks are allowed to continue.

READ: War on drugs: The violence, scars, doubts and families it left behind

“The ICC and the Philippine Government must be prepared to answer, fully and directly, for any harm that comes to Former President Duterte — including, should the worst happen, his death in custody as a direct result of these intrusions, the false pretense of conducting a ‘welfare check,’” said the vice president.

Duterte also pointed out that there are other detained overseas Filipinos globally who have not had the “benefit” of a welfare check from the Philippine government.

The INQUIRER has asked the vice president, through her office, to clarify how such welfare checks could endanger the elder Duterte and to identify the specific officials who reportedly entered his detention unit, but has yet to receive a response as of writing.

Rodrigo Duterte is currently in the custody of the ICC for crimes against humanity he allegedly committed during his administration’s bloody war against drugs.

The campaign against illegal drugs, dubbed “Oplan Tokhang,” left at least 6,000 people dead based on government records, while human rights groups estimate the toll at 20,000 or more. /dl