12-3-2025 (MANILA) Vice President Sara Duterte embarked on an urgent diplomatic mission to the Netherlands, departing via Emirates Airlines early Wednesday morning. Her journey comes in the wake of her father’s unprecedented detention and subsequent transfer to The Hague.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal predicament has reached a critical juncture, following his apprehension at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon returning from Hong Kong. The elder Duterte, accompanied by a select group including his trusted legal adviser and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, was transported via private aircraft after being held at Villamor Air Base for more than half a day.
The International Criminal Court’s investigation centres on allegations of crimes against humanity, stemming from the controversial anti-narcotics campaign during Duterte’s presidency. The operation, which drew international scrutiny, resulted in numerous fatalities, including civilian casualties and minors.
Tensions have escalated in Philippine political circles, with Vice President Duterte suggesting political machinations behind the timing of her father’s arrest, particularly with the approaching 2025 midterm elections. However, incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has dismissed these assertions, emphasising that the ICC’s investigation commenced in 2017, well before his ascension to the presidency.
The Office of the Vice President has maintained a measured approach to communications, indicating that additional information regarding the diplomatic mission would be disclosed as circumstances warrant. The younger Duterte’s presence in The Hague aims to confer with her father’s legal representatives and assess their strategic options in addressing the ICC proceedings.
