VP Sara says dad Rody’s arrest all about 2025, 2028 elections

Vice President Sara Duterte. Photo: Sen. Bong Go / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte said her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest was all about the coming midterm elections and the battle for the presidency in 2028.

She said the Marcos administration is accountable for the “oppression” and “persecution” of her father because the senatorial slate led by the former president is gaining strength in the block vote.

“Oo. Yes. [this is the administration’s doing] Kasi sobrang lakas ng block voting ngayon. Lumalakas at nag-i-isnowball ‘yung block voting ng nine candidates ng PDP Laban,” she said.

She also mentioned that tension for the 2028 presidential elections which she openly declared to seek is rising as early as now.

“At hindi lang yan. This is all about the 2028 elections. And I’m warning you, kung meron man 2028 elections. Nakita niyo na, ‘di ba, sinimulan nila sa people’s initiative. Hindi sila nagtagumpay kasi umalma ‘yung mga tao. Imagine mo, bibilihin ‘yung pagkatao mo para sa kagustuhan nila na hindi umalis sa pwesto,” she said.

Duterte spoke to the media upon her arrival at the Villamor Air Base yesterday, March 11 saying she, just like other Duterte allies, was barred access to the former president.

The older Duterte was arrested by the The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and flown to The Hague in The Netherlands upon the effect of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the former leader’s alleged crimes against humanity.

The Vice President who connected the “oppression” to her family to the coming elections, warned against possible widespread cheating in the 2025 and 2028 polls.

“I mean, tanggalin man nila si President, former President Duterte sa equations at midterm elections, nandiyan ‘yung taong bayan at lumalakas yung block voting ng PDP-9 candidates. Pero sinasabi ko sa inyo kanina, mag-ingat kayo sa election cheating. Matindi ito,” she said.

Dad’s arrest illegal

The Vice President said her father’s arrest was illegal because it did not follow due process.

“Ay, hindi. Hindi talaga, kasi nakalagay sa rules ng ICC, the defendant should be taken to an — a court. A local court, dapat dinala siya sa korte at iyong proseso natin dito sa loob, iyon iyong masusunod para sa pag implement ng warrant,” she said.

The former president was flown to The Hague less than 24 hours after his arrival from Hong Kong.

Lawyers Israelito Torreon and Vic Rodriguez, who were likewise denied access to the former president, immediately filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court requesting for a Temporary Restraining Order to halt the enforcement of the ICC’s arrest against Duterte.

The former president, a lawyer, questioned the validity of the warrant and the nature of his arrest. He demanded an answer for the deprivation of his liberty. One of his lawyers, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, said the former president was taken without a concrete explanation of the charges against him.

The Vice President said the former leader however still instructed her to navigate everything legally.

“Nagkausap kami kagabi, and he was okay naman. Sabi niya lagi, idaan lang sa legal. Iyon ang sabi niya. Kaya iyong discussions din namin, legal lang,” the Vice President said quoting her father.

The younger Duterte also said her father had even instructed her to go home since nothing can be done anymore but she still chose to stay at the base until his plane departed.

“Okay naman siya. Sinasabi niya kanina, sabi ko, nandito po sa labas ng gate, hindi ako makapasok,” she said.

“Sabi ko, hindi kita personal na mabigyan ng instructions. Pero, minessage, tinext ko na, sabi ko, minessage ko sa kanila lahat na kung sino man yung nandun sa loob. Ano ‘yung kailangan mong gawin,” she said.

“And then he said na, huwag ka na magantay dyan, umuwi ka na. Hindi ko rin naman magawa na iwanan ng ating dating Pangulo. Hindi dahil tatay ko siya, pero dahil hindi ko matanggap na nagiging doormat tayo ng mga dayuhan. I mean, ganito lang tayo maliliit na mga tao kung ikumpara mo sa ibang bansa. Pero, alam mo iyon, dapat may pride tayo ba,” she said.