MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte denounced what she described as “intrusive and dangerous” consular visits to former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

In a statement, Duterte said officials from the Philippine Embassy in The Hague entered the detention unit under the pretense of a welfare check and interviewed her father without the consent of family members. She claimed this violated rules on consular visits and put the former president’s safety at risk.

“The permission given by the ICC in allowing the agents of the very government that abducted FPRRD to intrude upon him, without seeking permission from family members who are in The Hague, places his life and safety in imminent danger,” she said.

Duterte stressed that family members regularly visit the former president to ensure his well-being and humane treatment. She warned that if such visits continue, both the ICC and the Philippine government should be held accountable “for any harm that comes to Former President Duterte — including, should the worst happen, his death in custody.”

“These are nothing but orders of President Marcos disguised as consular functions, and we strongly object to such visits. FPRRD does not need you, our family will take care of him,” she added.

The vice president also hit the administration for neglecting overseas Filipinos in distress. “We have several Overseas Filipinos around the world — detained, distressed, abandoned or neglected — who have not had the benefit of a single welfare check from the Philippine government. They need you but you have failed them. We, Filipinos, deserve better,” she said.