VP Duterte arrives in Netherlands as father taken into ICC custody

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte has arrived in Amsterdam, Netherlands to support her father and former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was taken into custody by the International Criminal Court over murder charges linked to extrajudicial killings during his drug war campaign.

The Office of the Vice President said Duterte’s plane landed past 2 a.m. (Philippine time) on Thursday, March 13. She was assisted by the Dutch Foreign Ministry and the Dutch National Police Corps.

The OVP said Duterte is set to attend a series of meetings while waiting to visit the former president.

According to Malacañang, VP Duterte has secured travel authority for her trip.

In an interview Tuesday night, the vice president said she will follow her father to The Hague where the ICC is located.

Duterte said she will now focus on bringing her father back to the country after his arrest.

In a statement on Wednesday, the vice president downplayed his father’s legal battle to a political dilemma.

“Maraming salamat din sa lahat ng mga Pilipinong nagpaabot ng mga mensahe, suporta, at panalangin para kay PRRD, sa akin, at sa aming buong pamilya na ngayon ay nahaharap sa matinding pagsubok sa pulitika,” she said.

[Translation: Thank you very much as well to all the Filipinos who sent messages, support, and prayers for PRRD, for me, and for our entire family who are now facing a great challenge in politics]

Aside from the vice president, her brother and Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte was also granted travel clearance for a personal trip to the Netherlands and Japan from March 12 to April 15.