Sara Duterte Secures Third Country

Vice President Sara Duterte said over the weekend that she secured a third country to host her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, whom the Hague authorities have alleged to have committed crimes against humanity linked to his war on illegal drugs.

Speaking to Filipinos in Japan, Sara Duterte said she personally negotiated with foreign contacts because she could not trust anyone in the Philippines to assist. “If you check the ICC website, a third country has already agreed to host former President Duterte,” she said Saturday, September 20. She did not disclose the country but confirmed it is not Japan. Australia previously declined the request.

In June, Duterte’s lawyer filed for his interim release, requesting that officials transfer him to an unnamed country, arguing he posed no flight risk and did not meet conditions for continued pre-trial detention. Sara Duterte said the process took time because negotiating with a foreign government proved difficult, and she relied on contacts abroad.

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor opposed the request, asserting that the tribunal must keep Duterte in detention to ensure his trial appearance, prevent him from interfering with investigations, and protect witnesses. Philippine human rights groups assisting drug war victims also warned against interim release, citing security risks.

Duterte has repeatedly accepted full legal responsibility for the drug war, which police reports show caused 6,000 deaths, while human rights organizations estimate up to 30,000, including vigilante killings. Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman called Duterte’s detention “illegal” and urged authorities to return him to the Philippines immediately.