- Duterte still running for mayor in Davao City despite detention
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte is not bowing out of the mayoralty race in Davao City despite the ICC case he’s facing, Vice President Sara Duterte revealed.
“Yes.. yes. Actually, he’s looking forward mag mayor. Kaya nga sabi niya kanina hindi pa naman ako mayor so dito lang muna ako,” the vice president told reporters in an interview at The Hague, Netherlands.
The vice president said her father remains innocent until proven guilty.
On the ICC case
When asked if the ICC investigation would affect her father’s candidacy, the vice president stated, “He is merely accused, and an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. So, we are still far from any conviction.”
“The goal is to bring him home today, but as we all know, it involves a lot of paperwork,” she added.
On Rodrigo Duterte’s medical condition
“He is doing okay. I saw former President Rodrigo Duterte inside the hospital. He is likely not fully cleared, based on his doctors’ assessments,” she said.
“I asked him how the food was, and he said there was rice,” she added.
On the legal team
“I can only discuss the legal team and strategy in general terms. Firstly, his counsel is led by Attorney Nicholas Kaufman, and another lawyer is coming. He is still undergoing an interview to join the team. Once the team is finalized, Attorney Salvador Medialdea will withdraw as there are limited slots for lawyers and we want all lawyers onboard to have ICC experience,” the Vice President said.
“We have a list, and one is arriving,” she said. When asked if they were all foreign lawyers, Duterte replied, “Yes.”
When asked how many lawyers were on the team, she said, “You may ask Attorney Kaufman.”
When asked why Attorney Harry Roque was not included, she said, “Well, the basis of his stay here has not been established, and we don’t want complications. We want the lawyers to focus solely on the case. Right now, I understand he is applying for asylum; he has publicly announced that already. We want him to focus on his asylum application, and the lawyers to focus on the case.”
