MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte has officially welcomed the Senate’s call for the interim release of former president Rodrigo Duterte, a move that has not only stirred national attention but also sent ripples across international legal circles. Her public endorsement arrives just days after three of her father’s staunchest allies in the Senate — Bong Go, Ronald dela Rosa, and Robinhood Padilla — filed a resolution seeking house arrest for the ex-president, who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands.

Speaking at a House inquiry on her office’s budget on September 18, 2024, Sara Duterte broke her silence on her father’s detention at the Scheveningen Prison, where he has been held for over 100 days. The former president is facing trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity tied to his bloody war on drugs.

The Vice President expressed strong support for the resolution, emphasizing humanitarian grounds as the core of the appeal. Citing advanced age, declining health, and family isolation, she called the proposed house arrest “a compassionate and lawful alternative” to ongoing detention. She added, “As a former president, he deserves a level of dignity even while under investigation.”

The Senate resolution for Duterte’s house arrest was filed by Go, dela Rosa, and Padilla — all known loyalists of the former president. They claimed, without medical documentation, that Duterte is down to ‘skin and bones’, raising alarm over his wellbeing. This characterization sparked an online debate, especially after a photo of Duterte looking frail went viral. Vice President Sara was quick to denounce the image as “fake”, likely generated by AI, and clarified that while her father has lost weight, he remains physically mobile.

This renewed push for Duterte’s release on humanitarian grounds has also gained traction in his hometown. The Davao City Council passed a resolution urging the ICC to consider a house arrest arrangement out of respect for Philippine sovereignty and the former president’s health.

Sara Duterte further revealed a personal detail that stunned many: her father has refused a burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, a privilege extended to past presidents. “He doesn’t want it. He just wants his remains to be disposed,” she shared. “I’ll ask next time why.”

The Senate resolution has reignited discussions about the Philippines’ obligations under the Rome Statute, the founding document of the ICC. While the country withdrew its membership in 2019, critics like Akbayan Rep. Jose Manuel Diokno insist that the government is still legally bound to cooperate with ICC proceedings related to crimes committed during the membership period. Diokno also pushed back against a separate resolution from Senator Imee Marcos, which seeks to ban the arrest or transfer of Filipinos to any international court without a local warrant. “The Rome Statute still applies to crimes committed during our time as a member,” Diokno warned.

So what’s next for Rodrigo Duterte?

With both national and local government officials pushing for his interim release, the ball is now in the court of the International Criminal Court. While humanitarian considerations may be reviewed, the ICC has a strict legal framework that balances compassion with justice, especially for high-profile defendants.

And with public interest skyrocketing, especially as fake photos and misinformation circulate online, the Duterte case has become a test of transparency, legality, and diplomacy.

Whether you support or oppose Rodrigo Duterte, his ongoing trial and detention raise important questions. Can a former head of state be granted house arrest during an ICC trial? Should national sovereignty override international commitments? What role does public opinion — and family influence — play in shaping global legal decisions?

This is more than a personal or political issue — it’s a historical moment for Philippine democracy, accountability, and foreign relations.

As Vice President Sara Duterte welcomes the Senate’s call for her father’s release, observers are asking: Is this a humanitarian plea or a political strategy ahead of the 2025 elections?

For now, one thing is clear — the battle for Duterte’s interim release is just beginning, and the world is watching.