Like father, like daughter: VP Duterte willing to face only PH court after being linked to deadly drug war

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) — Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said she is willing to be tried over her alleged complicity in the deadly drug war in Davao City when she was mayor — but like her father, she vehemently refuses to face an international court.

“Haharapin ko ang anumang akusasyon laban sa akin [I will face any accusation against me],” Duterte said in a statement. “But I will only face any charge against me before a Filipino judge — and only before a Filipino court.”

The vice president said she is now among the co-accused being probed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the bloody anti-drug campaign launched by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The younger Duterte maintained she will not take part in legal proceedings initiated by foreigners, saying doing so would be an insult to the Philippine justice system and to those who fought for the country’s freedom.

“Huwag nating ipahiya ang bansa sa buong mundo sa pamamagitan ng pagpapahintulot sa mga dayuhan na manghimasok at makialam sa Pilipinas,” she said.

[Translation: Let’s not put the country to international shame by allowing foreigners to intrude and intervene in Philippine matters]

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier told CNN Philippines that pieces of evidence have already been submitted against the vice president, alleging that extrajudicial killings continued in Davao City when she was local chief executive.

Trillanes also said there were testimonies that members of the so-called Davao Death Squad asked permission from her to continue the “tokhang” program initiated by her father, and that she gave her approval.

Duterte, meanwhile, questioned the timing of the accusations, saying she was never linked to the Davao Death Squad when she served as vice mayor, then later as mayor, of Davao City.

The death squad was an alleged vigilante group responsible for summary killings of suspected criminals, including drug dealers, in the city.

“Matapos akong manalo bilang vice president, bigla na lang nagkaroon ng testigo laban sa akin at ngayon ay kasama na ako sa mga akusado sa International Criminal Court,” Duterte said.

“Hindi ko kailangan ng death squad para sa mga bagay na kaya kong gawin,” she added.

[Translation: After I won the vice presidential elections, someone suddenly testified against me, and now I’m one of those accused before the International Criminal Court. I don’t need a death squad to do things I’m capable of doing.]

Earlier in the day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration will “not lift a finger” to assist the ICC, as he called the tribunal a threat to sovereignty.

This came after claims that ICC investigators have already entered the country — something the Department of Justice said it has yet to receive official communication on.