MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio accused President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of orchestrating what she branded as a “sham welfare check” by Philippine Embassy officials on her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, at his detention facility in The Hague.
Duterte-Carpio said Malacañang informed her that embassy officials submitted a report directly to Marcos after interviewing the former president under what she described as false pretenses.
“The officials entered the detention unit under the false pretense of conducting a ‘welfare check’ and interviewed FPRRD. The said officials clearly abused the rule of the detention unit concerning consular visits,” the Vice President said.
She also denounced the International Criminal Court (ICC) for permitting the visit, warning it placed the ex-president at risk.
“The permission given by the ICC in allowing the agents of the very government that abducted FPRRD to intrude upon him, without seeking permission from family members who are in the Hague, places his life and safety in imminent danger,” she said.
The Vice President underscored that since Duterte’s arrest in March, their family had consistently checked on his welfare.
“If such sham ‘welfare checks’ are allowed to continue, then the ICC and the Philippine Government must be prepared to answer, fully and directly, for any harm that comes to Former President Duterte—including, should the worst happen, his death in custody as a direct result of these intrusions, the false pretense of conducting a ‘welfare check,’” she warned.
“These are nothing but orders of President Marcos disguised as consular functions, and we strongly object to such visits. FPRRD does not need you, our family will take care of him,” Duterte-Carpio added.
Duterte was arrested in the Philippines on March 11 under an ICC warrant and later transferred to The Hague. He faces crimes against humanity charges linked to alleged extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaign both as Davao City mayor and president.
The ICC said the case involves 49 incidents with 78 victims./PN
