Vice President Sara Duterte expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stating that his actions enabled her to rebuild her relationship with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, she stated, “This really is ironic, but I have to thank Bongbong Marcos because there was forgiveness between me and [former President Rodrigo Duterte] for all that has happened in our lives. And we have a relationship now – a father-daughter relationship.”
She described her visits to the ICC Detention Centre as providing extended opportunities for conversations with her father, noting that his past busy schedule had limited their interactions.
“Now, I have this every day with him, talking about life, talking about family, and for that, I feel that I am blessed, because at this point, he is already 80. He is already retired,” she said. “We were given this time to talk as father and daughter.”
She also mentioned that the situation had strengthened her bond with her half-sister, Veronica, amidst what she described as “attacks” against their family.
The former president’s detention follows an ICC arrest warrant related to allegations of crimes against humanity during his administration’s “war on drugs.” The arrest has generated public debate, with some supporters protesting against the Marcos administration.
The Duterte camp has argued that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the former president, citing the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019.
President Marcos has maintained that the government cooperated with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in enforcing the arrest warrant. Legal experts have asserted that the ICC retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a member of the Rome Statute, which it ratified in 2011.