The Hague, Netherlands — Since the arrest and detention of former Philippine President Rodigo Duterte in The Hague, Netherlands, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte had an active role in the preparation and initial processing of his case at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
And after three weeks since the arrest, VP Sara says that she is close to returning to the Philippines.
In a chance interview with the media outside the ICC detention facility, VP Sara said that she is only waiting for a certain document, and then she will be returning to the Philippines after.
She described that once the document arrives and is ready, her job in the ICC is done.
Despite expressing plans of returning to the Philippines, Duterte confirmed that her father’s legal defense team is still not complete.
She said that the camp’s lead counsel Atty. Nicholas Kaufman is still in the process of interviewing lawyers who would be fitting to be part of the former president’s defense team.
It can be recalled that VP Sara earlier announced that they are eyeing for lawyers with ICC experience to support her father’s case.
While the defense team remains incomplete, VP Sara hopes that the team will be completed before she leaves and returns to the Philippines.
On April 1st, Duterte appeared at the detention facility to visit her father, followed by the former president’s common law partner Honeylet Avanceña and their daughter Veronica Kitty for a visit.
The confirmation hearing of Duterte is set for September 23, 2025.
Meanwhile, awaiting here in the Philippines for her return is the Vice President’s Office, the new House findings regarding her office’s confidential funds, and her looming impeachment trial.