VP Sara greets Duterte on 80th birthday: 'I learned resilience and courage in your exigence'

Vice President Sara Duterte released a short video message for her father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who turned 80 years old on Friday.

"Warmest birthday wishes to Former President Rodrigo Duterte. I learned resilience and courage in your exigence. Thank you for teaching me the value of education," said the Vice President.

"I wish you love, good health and happiness. Happy 80th birthday Papa!," she added.

The elder Duterte, who was born on March 28, 1945, is currently facing charges for murder as a crime against humanity before the International Criminal Court. He was arrested in the Philippines on March 11 and was brought to The Hague, Netherlands shortly after.

On Thursday night, Sara, who is also at The Hague, Netherlands, relayed her wish for her father on his birthday.

“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,” said Sara in a statement on Friday.

(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.)

“Hilingin din natin sa Diyos na sana ay makauwi na agad si Pangulong Duterte sa Pilipinas,” the Vice President added.

(Let’s also pray to the Lord that President Duterte will be able to return to the Philippines.)

Birthday activities

Meanwhile, several activities will be held in the Philippines to mark Duterte's 80th birthday.

“Sa mga kababayan natin sa Pilipinas, The Netherlands at iba’t ibang panig ng mundo—napakalaking bagay para kay Pangulong Duterte ang pagtitipon ninyo para sa kanyang pag-uwi at kaarawan.”

(To all our fellow Filipinos in the Philippines, in The Netherlands, and in other parts of the world, your gatherings are a huge thing for President Duterte’s return and birthday.)

In a press conference, MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said the agency will not restrict the protesters from staging their program as long as they do not obstruct the traffic.

“Sa amin naman pong side, traffic management lang. So yung mga protesta po na ganyan so long as ginagawa sa freedom parks, hindi naman po kami nag-o-object dyan,” Artes said.

(On our side, it's just traffic management. So as long as protests like that are held in freedom parks, we don't object to that.)

“It's just that pinakikiusapan po natin lalong-lalo na yung mga namumuno sa ganiyang pagtitipon na ayusin lamang po yung kanilang hanay to make sure na hindi naman po tayo nakakaabala ng iba. Yung traffic, pedestrian, hindi naaabala,” he added.

(It's just that we're appealing especially to those who are leading such gatherings to do it properly to make sure that we're not disturbing others. The traffic and pedestrians are not obstructed.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News