VP Duterte to seek postponement of father’s ICC appearance

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte has arrived at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands on Friday, March 14, ahead of the initial appearance of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the tribunal's pre-trial chamber at 9 p.m. (Manila time).

With the vice president were Sen. Robin Padilla and ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, his first public appearance since leaving the country amid investigations into his alleged links to illegal offshore gaming.

In a chance interview with reporters in The Hague, Duterte said she is hoping the ICC would grant their request to postpone her father’s initial appearance before the tribunal.

Roque, who is still seeking ICC accreditation to be one of the former president’s legal counsels, said the request “will have to be asked at the hearing today.”

“We truly pray and hope that the court will listen to our request just to move the initial appearance so we can have time to sit down with the former president and discuss what are the ways forward,” the vice president said.

According to the ICC, the judges will verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he can follow the proceedings.

Duterte said she is also hoping that the court will grant her permission to visit her father after complying with requirements.

Meanwhile, Roque said he will also raise the issue of the president’s arrest, should he be accredited as his counsel.

Philippine authorities arrested Duterte on the strength of an ICC warrant, with the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization on March 11, over murder charges linked to extrajudicial killings during his bloody drug war.

Roque said only Salvador Medialdea, the ex-president’s former executive secretary, has been recognized as counsel so far. He said Duterte has three listed counsels, including a British lawyer.