DAVAO City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte said former President Rodrigo Duterte (FPRRD) urged Filipinos to prioritize the country and its people, emphasizing that political power is temporary but the nation must endure.
“Alagaan ang Pilipinas, alagaan ang Filipino, kay kami, siya, kami mga pulitiko muagi rami aning kalibutana. Ang importante nga ang Pilipinas matarong (Take care of the Philippines and the Filipino people. We, the politicians, will come and go — what matters is setting things right for the country),” Pulong quoted his father during a media interview on Tuesday, June 17, in The Hague, Netherlands.
He said the former president stressed the importance of improving the country, particularly while still in leadership. He noted that his father appeared thinner since his last visit, but assured the public that he remains healthy and even manages to crack jokes from time to time.
Pulong thanked their supporters and called on them to continue praying for the former president’s health.
The Duterte family flew to The Hague to visit the patriarch, who is detained pending proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte said FPRRD’s legal team has already filed a request for interim release, which is now publicly available on the ICC website.
“Mayroong redacted portions noon dahil naisip ng defense team na kailangan maging confidential ýung ibang impormasyon noon pero noon ay available naman sa prosecutors, sa judges, and ang pagkakaalam ko available din siya doon sa representatives ng mga biktima (There are redacted portions because the defense team requested confidentiality for some information, but those were made available to prosecutors, judges, and, to my knowledge, to the victims' representatives as well)," the vice president said during a media interview at the OVP Pasidungog event on June 16 at SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang.
She said the family hopes for a swift release, citing her father’s age and the limited capacity of the ICC detention center to meet the needs of an 80-year-old detainee.
Sara added that she has no update on Rodrigo’s oath-taking, as a separate legal counsel is handling that matter.
Rodrigo Duterte was transferred to The Hague on March 11, 2025, to face charges of alleged crimes against humanity during his presidency. RGP