VP Sara Duterte: Ex-president eyes Davao return, watching election closely

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former President Rodrigo Duterte remains deeply invested in Philippine politics as he awaits legal proceedings abroad, with his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, revealing his strong desire to return to Davao City.

Speaking to supporters in The Hague on March 22, VP Sara Duterte shared details of her visit to her father, revealing that he closely follows the upcoming national elections and has expressed concerns over potential electoral fraud.

“Nagtatanong lang siya sa mga timelines kasi nga malapit na ‘yung eleksyon,” she said.

(TRANSLATION: "He's asking about the timelines since the elections are fast approaching.

“Tinanong niya kung papaano siya makakabalik dahil nga meron din siyang eleksyon sa Davao City. So, iyon ‘yung napag-usapan kanina, iyong kampanya at eleksyon na nangyayari sa ating bayan. At nag-express din siya ng fears niya,apprehensions niya, sa baka merong mangyaring dagdag-bawas, iyong mga ganoon na mga usapan sa eleksyon, sa halalan.”

(TRANSLATION: He asked how he could return since he also has an election in Davao City. We talked about the campaigns, the elections back home, and his concerns about possible vote-rigging.)

Last Friday, Vice President Duterte admitted her father might never return home, accusing the Marcos administration of working to keep him in The Hague.

Meanwhile, the vice president assured supporters that while the former leader is under medical supervision, he remains in stable condition.

When one OFW asked if there were nurses coming in to help him out, VP Sara said “Yes, yes. There are. Everyone's helping him out inside.”

“He is allowed but he doesn't want to. He doesn't want to go around. I told him that, I

told him that can you just do what the doctor tells you. The doctor is telling you to use your muscles. He's not even allowed to use the wheelchair now because the doctor wants him to (walk),” the vice president added.

While Duterte is adjusting to his detention, his daughter revealed his defiant stance.

“He said that if I go out, I'll go straight to the gates and go out. That's what he told me… I told him to avail of your rights to go outside and walk. And then he said, no, I don't want to do that because I will walk to the gate,” VP Sara said.

On the legal front, Duterte called her father’s transfer a case of “extraordinary rendition” and insisted it was legally unjust. “From the perspective of international law, it's all wrong,” she said, adding that legal efforts are ongoing.

She also assured that her family is taking turns visiting him and urged supporters to continue making their voices heard.

“I assure you na merong ginagawa ang mga abogado,” she said.

(TRANSLATION: I assure you, the lawyers are taking action.)

Duterte is set to visit her father again in the coming days. She also mentioned earlier that she won’t be staying long in The Hague, as she’ll return to the Philippines after securing a legal team to defend her father at the ICC.