September 3, 2025
MANILA – Visitors of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte are now barred from publicly revealing their discussions during scheduled visits at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center, Vice President Sara Duterte said.
Speaking in an interview in The Hague, the Vice President said the ICC’s detention unit reminded them that certain conditions must be followed while visiting a detainee, in this case, their father.
“So, from now on, we can no longer discuss what happened inside and whatever we talked about inside [the detention center],” she said in the interview led by one of their closest allies, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
“I can only say that President Duterte is still alive. That’s all,” she also said. “We are not allowed to give updates.”
The Vice President is still in The Hague for a scheduled visit to her father. The visit was also joined by all her siblings: Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, and their youngest sister, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.
Following their visit on Aug. 27 (Netherlands time), the Vice President held an interview and disclosed what they talked about with their father and how he was during his fifth month in jail.
This had been the case in her earlier visits, when she revealed details of their discussions and what the former president told her or other visitors.
READ: All 4 Duterte siblings visit ex-President together at The Hague
The former president will face the international tribunal again on Sept. 23 for the confirmation of charges.
The Vice President said she will also attend the confirmation of charges, along with other relatives.
READ: Rodrigo Duterte tells Sara: Cremate me in The Hague if I die here
“We are still arranging our schedule. So, we still don’t know who will fly [to The Hague] on September 23 for the confirmation of charges,” she said. “But that is sure because as I told them, there is a need for us to visit him whenever allowed by the detention unit.”