Sara takes Duterte's things, Honeylet visits penitentiary

THE HAGUE – On her latest visit to the Hague Penitentiary Institution, Vice President Sara Duterte took away several belongings of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The vice president arrived around 3 p.m. (The Netherlands time), and stayed inside the facility for about twenty minutes. Later, her aides were seen taking four suitcases and one large box out of the security reception area and bringing them into a black van.

In a short statement, Sara said she took her father’s belongings which could not fit in his room.

“Hindi ko po nakausap si [dating] Pangulong Duterte ngayong araw na ito. Narito po kami para kunin ang mga gamit na hiningi namin… kasi hindi na [sila] maipasok doon sa [kanyang] kwarto. Kaya binalik muna sa amin yung mga gamit para mag-imbentaryo at itago,” she said.

(I wasn’t able to speak with former President Duterte today. We are here to pick up his belongings that we requested since they cannot fit in his room. In the meantime, they [penitenitary] returned his belongings so we can inventory and keep them.) 

The vice president refused to answer questions from the media, saying she would respond “next time”. However, she said the Office of the Vice President has already prepared the greetings and program for her father’s birthday celebration tomorrow. 

“Sa kanyang pagdiriwang ng kanyang 80th birthday, huwag nating kalimutan na ipagdasal sa Diyos na sana ay biyayaan pa siya ng mas magandang kalusugan at mas mahabang buhay,” she said in a statement.

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(In his celebration of his 80th birthday, let’s not forget to pray to the Lord that he will be granted good health and a longer life.) 

Several minutes after Sara’s van left the penitentiary, Duterte’s common-law partner Honeylet Avanceña was seen briefly entering the security reception area, but left afterward. 

However, she was not able to get inside the detention facility to see the former president, according to Mariz Umali's report on Unang Balita on Friday.

Avanceña briefly spoke to Duterte’s supporters who asked her if she could relay their birthday wishes. Later, Avanceña was seen turning emotional after hugging a supporter. She also received birthday cards given by Duterte’s supporters. 

Avanceña did not give a statement except for “Padayon lang.” when asked by reporters for a message for Duterte’s birthday.

She and daughter Veronica "Kitty" Duterte arrived at the penitentiary on Wednesday. Sara is still in the Netherlands to take care of the legal preparations for her father’s charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).—LDF, GMA Integrated News