Duterte siblings fly to join dad

A DAY after former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and flown into the Netherlands to face trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC), both Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte booked separate flights to Amsterdam to be with their father. Sara flew first in the morning, taking an Emirates flight bound for Dubai with a connecting flight to Amsterdam, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said. The OVP also said that due to the developments surrounding her father, she will no longer participate in the Araw ng Dabaw Festivities slated for March 16 and 17. Her brother, Paolo, later took a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong also en route to Amsterdam. The eldest of the Duterte siblings earlier secured a travel clearance from the House of Representatives to travel to the Netherlands and Japan from March 12 to April 15 for a "personal trip." He said that the expenditures for his trip will come from his personal funds. House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco granted Duterte's travel clearance on March 12. Velasco told The Manila Times that Duterte is allowed to extend his travel authority if he requests it before April 15. In a chance interview with reporters at the Villamor Airbase the night her father was flown out of the country, Sara said that she will bring together lawyers to discuss the case. She said that under the ICC's own rules, the former president was supposed to be brought first to a local court where the judicial process of the Philippines must be followed. Duterte also advised her father not to accept any food and water from anyone during the flight. The vice president said despite the country not being a part of ICC, it has allowed itself to be a "doormat" for other countries to cooperate with the court. "We are the only country in the world that cooperates with the ICC. We are like a doormat for other countries, not just for ICC. Where can you see a country whose own citizens will be given to foreigners?" Duterte said in Filipino. She also said that she expected the latest developments because of the "vague answers" given by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, when she was still in the Cabinet. "The moment that I talked to the Justice secretary, and then I noticed that he had very vague answers. We already started to prepare," Duterte said. She also said that there is no sense talking to President Marcos over her father's arrest, adding that their feud has become "too personal." "They filed an impeachment that used hearsay and gossip as a basis, so this is very personal. This is a diversion from the failures to deliver good governance and decent public service to the Filipinos," Duterte said. Meanwhile, the youngest of the Duterte siblings, Veronica Duterte, vowed to stand by her promise made to her father. She also said that she "will forever walk with pride knowing that I am your daughter, your blood." "I am a Duterte, the strength you raised me with will go untamed... I love you," Veronica, whose mother is Duterte's current partner Cielito Avancena, said. Meanwhile, the pages of Rody Duterte, Inday Sara Duterte and the Office of the Vice President changed their profile pictures and banners to "Bring PRRD Home."