MANILA, Philippines — Hiniling ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa International Criminal Court na pabilisin ang paglilitis kay dating President Rodrigo Duterte dahil sa kanyang edad, kalusugan at matagal nang pagkakadetine.
Sinabi ni Duterte, na bumisita sa kanyang ama sa The Hague mula Lunes hanggang Miyerkules, na maayos naman sa pangkalahatan ang kalagayan ng 81-anyos na dating pangulo, bagama’t ginagamot ito sa skin rash at nakararanas ng karaniwang pananakit ng katawan dahil sa edad.
“We’re trying to ask the health unit of the detention what it is all about. But we appreciate that they did something about it,” ani Duterte.
“I understand there’s a cream applied on the skin, on the skin rash. I really don’t know what it is. So other than that, the usual aches and pains of an 81-year-old man and well yes, there’s no complaints right now about the weather because it’s not really cold here.”
Ayon sa Bise Presidente, nakatakda sa Nobyembre ang paglilitis ngunit umaasa ang pamilya na masisimulan ito nang mas maaga dahil isang taon at apat na buwan nang nakakulong ang dating pangulo nang walang paglilitis o usapin tungkol sa kanyang paglaya.
Aniya, ang kanyang ama ay “cannot afford to stay in detention for 3, 4, 5 years more.”
Iginiit ni Duterte na labag sa batas ang pagkuha sa kanyang ama mula sa Pilipinas, ngunit sinabi niyang sinusuportahan na ngayon ng pamilya ang legal na proseso sa ilalim ng ICC.
“We are angry. The moment that he was taken, was kidnapped from the Philippines, and we are still angry now,” dagdag pa ng Bise Presidente.
Sinabi rin niyang napag-usapan na nila ang posibilidad na mamatay ang dating pangulo habang nakakulong at nakapagbigay na ito ng mga tagubilin sakaling mangyari iyon.
“There is always a possibility that he will pass inside the prison and that is something that I already discussed with President Duterte. That is why he gave his… instructions in case he dies in prison. But of course, as a Filipino, as a daughter, we want him to die in Philippine soil,” giit pa niya. “Free him now. Free Duterte now. Bring him home.”
Kinuwestiyon din ni Duterte ang kahandaan ng administrasyon na magsagawa ng patas na imbestigasyon sa umano’y korupsiyon sa flood control funds at sinasabing kaugnayan nito kay dating Senator Antonio Trillanes at sa mga ICC investigator.
“Unfortunately now… there is nowhere we can go because the administration of course controls all the institutions of government and the investigation will really rely on their sincerity with regard to finding out who the real culprits are, who the masterminds are, and right now we are not seeing that situation,” aniya pa.
“We fully hope that there will be a sincere and impartial investigation with regard to the corruption especially to the flood control issue and how it relates to some of those funds that went to allegedly Trillanes and of course to the ICC investigators. This is something that the Philippine government should suppose to look into but as we see now they’re not really hearing it and they’re setting it aside,” dagdag pa niya.
Sinabi rin ni Duterte na nagsasampa ng perjury cases ang mga indibidwal na binanggit sa mga affidavit laban sa mga gumawa ng mga salaysay.
“If it is not human justice, then it will be definitely divine justice,” aniya.
Nagpasalamat din ang Bise Presidente sa mga overseas Filipino para sa kanilang suporta sa Office of the Vice President at panalangin para sa paglaya at pagbabalik sa Pilipinas ng kanyang ama. RNT
