Vice President Sara Duterte speaking with the media in front of the Scheveningen detention facility at The Hague, Netherlands. 

MANILA, Philippines – After the barb trades, the threats and “kidnapping,” Vice President Sara Duterte, in an unlikely circumstance, thanked President Marcos Jr. for the forgiveness and renewed relationship she developed with her incarcerated father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. 

“This is ironic but I have to thank Bong Bong Marcos because there was forgiveness between me and PRD for all that has happened in our lives and we have a relationship now – a father-daughter relationship,” the vice president said in an interview for the first time with half-sister Veronica “Kitty” Duterte in front of the Scheveningen detention facility at The Hague, Netherlands. 

Surprisingly, the limited time she is accorded to see him everyday was in fact the longest she spent talking with her father, said the vice president. 

“This has been one of the longest with [the] former president. Growing up, he was always busy with work, he was always busy with the country and now I have this, everyday with him talking about life talking about family and for that I feel like I am blessed,” she said. 

Despite the situation, the vice president said she is cherishing the moments she has with her father just talking about their family as public service will consume him again in the event he gets re-elected as mayor of his bailiwick Davao City. 

“At this point, he’s already 80 and he’s already retired but going back as mayor baka ma-busy na naman siya sa kaniyang trabaho so meron kaming, nabigyan kami ng ganitong time na makapag-usap as father-daughter,” she said. 

“Sad lang na it has to happen inside. Thank you sa kanya [Marcos],” she said. 

‘I gained a sister’  

The challenges she faced in the recent months and ultimately, their father’s arrest also gave birth to a relationship with Kitty, the former president’s daughter with common law wife Honeylet Avancena. 

“I don’t have the word right now, I only have happy but it’s the incorrect word to describe it but blessed. I gained a sister with what happened to me after the attacks, the confidential funds,” she said. 

“We have a relationship now. I have a relationship with Kitty and I’m happy now,” she said. 

As they were having the interview, the two were visibly close, tightly clung onto each other’s arms while speaking about their father – a sight never before seen of Duterte’s daughters. 

“Sabi ko nga sa kanya, I’m happy that I have a sister kasi meron akong pagagalitan. Growing up wala akong ganun basta meron ako niyan ngayon na kapatid. I’m happy as well,” the vice president said.

Dad never blamed me for political ties with Marcos 

The vice president also shared that her father never blamed his fate on his daughter’s decision to tie up with Marcos despite his reservations. 

“Ah wala [he never blamed me]. Ever since wala siyang sinabi sa akin na ganyan, even when I ran for vice president, wala naman talaga siya sinabi, sinabi lang niya ‘di na ako sasali diyan, kayo na mag-desisyon niyan,” said the former Education secretary. 

According to the vice president, their father would always tell her growing up that she must carve her own path. 

“I don’t remember PRD [President Rodrigo Duterte] na naninisi, never, never kasi I always remember him, I don’t know Kit with you, but I always remember him when I was growing up he would always say you make your own history in this world, you always answer to your decisions so I think that is his philosophy as well so he doesn’t blame anyone,” she said. 

Despite the legal battle ahead, the Duterte siblings said their father still always says, “I did it for my country.”  

Duterte is falling charges for crimes against humanity for the killings associated with his bloody drug war.