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Duterte leaves fate to God in ICC case, Sara says
THE HAGUE — Vice President Sara Duterte said her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, has chosen to leave his fate to God.
“Sabi niya, ‘Ipapasa-Diyos ko na yan lahat. Kung anong mangyari sa buhay ko, so be it,’” the vice president told GMA Integrated News and supporters of the former president after her scheduled visit to the Hague Penitentiary Institution on Friday afternoon.
(He said, ''I am entrusting everything to God. Whatever happens to my life, so be it.'')
“Dili ta mo surrender,” Sara said in her native Cebuano in response to a statement from a supporter who said they will not surrender.
(We will not surrender.)
On March 11, Philippine authorities served a warrant of arrest from the ICC for Duterte for crimes against humanity charges in connection with his deadly drug war.
Duterte has repeatedly said that he will accept full legal responsibility for the consequences of his drive to eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines.
“My mandate as President of the Republic was to protect the country and the Filipino people. Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do. Whether you believe it or not, I did for my country,” he said in a Senate inquiry into his drug war last October.
On March 14, Duterte faced the ICC via video link, two days after he was transported to The Hague via charter jet.
In an ambush interview on March 20, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, the former president's lead defense counsel, remarked the latter was “apparently, an extremely good prosecutor” who “[could] teach this court how to prosecute a few cases.”
When asked about her reaction, Sara said the former president was “always thinking like that,'' and she was thankful to her father for insisting that she study law.
“Well yes, ganun naman lagi mag-isip si Pangulong Duterte. In relation to that, sabi niya sa akin, ‘Buti na lang, pinilit kita maging abogado dahil alam ko na nang mangyayari sa akin ito’,” Sara said.
(Well yes, former President Duterte was always thinking like that. In relation to that, he told me, "I'm glad I persuaded you to pursue a legal career since I knew this would happen to me.'')
The vice president said her legal background makes it easier to understand the conversations between her father and Kaufman.
“Naiintindihan ko lahat ng pinag-uusapan nila. Hindi ako nawawala sa mga kailangan naming i-discuss. And then, naiintindihan ko rin yung proseso na kailangan gawin,'' she said.
(I can relate to what they were discussing. I never lost focus on the matters that needed to be discussed. And then, I understand the process that we must go through.)
Sara also shared her conversations with the former president were being recorded.
“Ang puwede lang makipag-usap sa kanya ng confidential legal matters is ang lawyer kasi yun lang ang mayroong privileged communication,” she said.
(Only the lawyer can discuss confidential legal matters with him since this is covered by privileged communication.)
“Nakakapagusap kami about legal strategy in codes kasi nga nakikinig lahat nung sinasabi [at] pinag-usapan namin, nire-record at tinatranslate at pinapadala sa court. So, nakakapag-usap kami in codes in Bisaya.''
(Since everyone was listening to the conversation—which was being recorded, translated, and transmitted to the court—we talk about legal strategy in codes.So, we talk in Bisaya codes.)
Doctors have also advised the former president to walk more, and he may soon go outdoors for exercise, subject to security arrangements, the vice president said.
Dutertes in The Hague
Meanwhile, more family members of the former president are expected to come to The Hague.
Sara said the family members are hoping to arrive in time for the planned gathering of Duterte supporters in The Hague on March 23.
The vice president had already said her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, is set to arrive next week. It is not clear yet whether Zimmerman will be allowed to visit the former president because she is no longer considered next-of-kin after their marriage was annulled.
Sara said her brother Paolo, Davao City's 1st district representative, is also coming, but the date is not yet confirmed.
When asked about her brother Sebastian, the current mayor of Davao City, Sara said that he might visit after the May 12 midterm elections.
“Si Mayor Baste ay parang pagkakaintindi ko sa sinasabi niya pagkatapos na ng eleksyon kasi kailangan niya asikasuhin yung campaign doon sa Davao City kasi siya na yung nagdadala ng mga konsehal," she said.
(Mayor Baste, from what I gathered, will come here after the elections because he needs to attend to the campaign in Davao City, including for councilors.)
Sara added that she heard that the former president’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, will also travel to The Hague.
“Hindi ko lang alam kung anong dates sila darating,'' she said.
(I just don't have any idea when they will arrive.)
Asked about her birthday wish for her father, who will turn 80 on March 28, Sara replied, “Good health, comfort, and happiness.”
The vice president said she would return to Davao before the midterm elections. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
