Medialdea’s next-of-kin to arrive in The Hague, Sara says

THE HAGUE – Vice President Sara Duterte said former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea’s next-of-kin would arrive in The Hague, Netherlands on Saturday.

“I think darating na yung next-of-kin tomorrow so that is one less worry, dahil may family member na mag-asikaso sa kanya,” the Vice President told GMA Integrated News on Friday afternoon, following her scheduled visit to her father former President Rodrigo Duterte.

It is still unclear as to which medical condition Medialdea faced, but according to a post of Senator Bong Go on Saturday, the former executive secretary has already been discharged from the hospital.

GMA Integrated News asked the Vice President if there were instructions from Medialdea about the former President Rodrigo Duterte's currrent situation.

“Wala [naman siyang] bilin. Napag-usapan lang namin yung health condition niya. Successful naman ang procedure. [Napag-usapan din namin] kung ano yung mga advice ng doctor,” she said.

On March 18, Medialdea, who was visiting Duterte then, was brought out of The Hague Penitentiary Institution on a stretcher and taken to a hospital via ambulance.

Medialdea was with the former president when he was flown out of the country on March 11 to face his charges before the ICC over killings in relation to the drug war.

Meanwhile, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, the former president’s counsel in his defense team before the International Criminal Court, said a five-member “provisional core team” was already completed, and that a Filipino would be included.

GMA Integrated News asked the Vice President if Medialdea or Atty. Harry Roque would be in the defense team.

“Nagsho-shortlist pa yung inutusan kong mag-interview kay Nicholas Kaufman, inutusan ko siya ngayon na maghanap ng Filipino lawyer. Likely hindi [na ICC accredited] na kasi iilan lang naman ang ICC accredited. But we’ll see. Depende [ang pagkakasali sa team] sa abilidad ng lawyer,” Sara said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News