Palace slams VP Sara's 'state kidnapping' remark over father's arrest

Malacañang on Wednesday hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte for saying that what happened to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was a form of "state kidnapping."

''What does she mean by that – state kidnapping? Well, I guess I have to stick with the word kidnapping. Anu-ano po ba iyong elements ng kidnapping? Pagkuha nang sapilitan nang walang awtoridad – iyon ang pinakasimple para sa taumbayan,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said during a press conference.

(What does she mean by that – state kidnapping? Well, I guess I have to stick with the word kidnapping. What are the elements of kidnapping? When you forcibly took someone without consent, that's the most simple explanation for the public.)

''Paano po magiging kidnapping, eh may warrant of arrest? It was issued by an authority, by the court,'' she added.

(How can it be a form of kidnapping when there's a warrant of arrest? It was issued by an authority, by the court.)

She said that the Philippine government must comply with the request of the International Criminal Court through the Interpol.

READ: Full Text: ICC warrant of arrest for Rodrigo Duterte

Reacting to her father's arrest, Sara Duterte told the media on Tuesday, “Sinasabi ko sa inyong lahat Pilipino kayo 'wag kayong pumayag na ang isang Pinoy ibigay sa mga dayuhan lalo na pag labas na sa batas 'yun. This is actually some sort of state kidnapping. Parang ganyan na nangyayari.''

(I’m telling you all, Filipinos, don't let a Filipino be taken away by foreigners, especially if it has no legal basis. This is actually some sort of state kidnapping. That seems to be what’s going on.)

On Tuesday night, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said his predecessor was being brought to the ICC in The Hague in the Netherlands to face charges in connection with the killings in the past administration's war on drugs.

The ICC pre-trial chamber looking into the case of the former president found reasonable grounds to believe Duterte was "individually responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder.''

Meanwhile, Veronica "Kitty" Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian ''Baste'' Duterte have sought the help of the Supreme Court (SC) to bring their father back to the Philippines. —VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News