VP Sara spends 47th birthday calling for FPRRD's release in The Hague

Vice President Sara Duterte spent her 47th birthday calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and relevant Philippine courts to bring her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, back home to the Philippines.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

The Vice President attended the “ICC, send Duterte home” rally at the Laan van Reagan en Gorbatjov, The Hague, with European-based Filipino supporters of the Duterte family on Saturday, May 31.

At the gathering, she asked supporters to tirelessly call on the Philippine government and the ICC to bring her father back to the Philippines, and for local Philippine courts to review the decision to send him to The Hague.

"Dahil di ba sila yung nagsasabi lahat may human rights. So, dapat ibigay din nila yung human rights ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na ibalik sa Pilipinas at i-check ng ating mga lokal na korte kung karapat-dapat ba na siya ay ipadala dito sa the Hague (They always talk about human rights. So, they should also give former president Rodrigo Duterte his human rights and bring him back to the Philippines and for the local courts to check if he should rightfully be sent to The Hague)," she addressed the crowd that gathered there while standing on a stool atop the makeshift stage.

Most of the Filipino supporters came from many parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, and France.

With the Vice President were her younger brother, Davao City Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte and other Duterte allies-Senators Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla, Senatorelect Rodante Marcoleta, and lawyers Harry Roque and Vic Rodriguez.

The Vice President, who was also celebrating her 47th birthday on Saturday was serenaded with a birthday song by their supporters, followed by the "Pilipinas, Duterte Pa Rin" as the closing song.

No jurisdiction During her speech, the younger Duterte argued that the ICC did not have jurisdiction over her father's case.