Vice President Sara Duterte. Photo: Office of the Vice President
MANILA, Philippines – “Their fears are unfounded and hindi ganyan ang tatay ko.”
This was the response of Vice President Sara Duterte to the families of alleged drug war victims who were said to be fearing for their lives and safety once former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands for charges of crimes against humanity , returns home.
In a virtual press conference with members of the media on Thursday (March 20), the vice president justified her father’s character and said legal processes have been going on for long, reason why the former president would all the more stay out of the investigation.
“Nakita niyo po ba si Pangulong Duterte? Alam na namin, diba, na nag-iimbestiga, nag-i-interview ng witnesses. Alam namin kung sino, alam namin kung saan, pero wala siyang ginawa talaga. Pinabayaan niya because he was of the belief that as a Filipino citizen, the government will not cooperate once there is a formal investigation that will happen inside the Philippines or once there is a warrant of arrest,” she said.
“So wala talaga siyang ginawa sa mga witnesses, sa mga family members,” she said.
She again underscored the tough-talking former leader’s physical condition and old age renders him incapable of inflicting harm on others.
“Pangalawa, nakita niyo, kailangan siya itulak ng mga police para gumalaw. At kailangan siya itulak paakyat ng eroplano. So, wala na siya physically magagawa sa mga family members at sa mga witnesses,” she said.
Instructing his men to silence or harm the families no less is likewise something the president would not and could not do because the witnesses are now both under the protection of the ICC and the Philippine government.
“Pwede ba siya mag-utos ng mga tao na oh, on my behalf, gawin niyo ito, gawin niyo ‘yan? Pwede siguro pero hindi niya ginawa noon. Ngayon pa ba niya gagawin? ‘Di ba? Na nandiyan na siya. And meron ng protection yung mga family members. Meron na silang protection ng ICC at meron silang protection ng Philippine government,” she said.
The younger Duterte said the former leader remains consistent to his pronouncement that he will face all accusations against him.
“Their fears are unfounded and hindi ganyan ang tatay ko. Kung ano man ‘yung kailangan niya sagutin, sasagutin niya iyan. Pero hindi siya magta-tamper ng evidence,” she said.
Being a former prosecutor, the 79-year-old former president is well aware of the consequences of tampering with evidence and harassing witnesses, the vice president said.
For the equally troubled younger Duterte, such rumors are circulating because certain individuals are against the return of the former president.
“Sinasabi lang nila siguro yan para, I don’t know, huwag pabalikin ang Pangulo sa ating bansa. Bakit ayaw nila pabalikin?”
“They are in collusion with individuals both in the government and outside of — from the private sector. They are in collusion with the organizations who are against the former president because of his policies noong siya ay pangulo. They are in collusion with people who want to stay in power, with people who want to totally erase political opposition, who want to question the acts of government,” she said.
The vice president is still in the Netherlands fixing her father’s legal team. She said she has a return ticket in April but is still unsure when she will be returning to the Philippines.
Facing multiple legal battles of her own, the vice president is set to face impeachment trial once Congress enters function in June.
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Republika News 
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