MANILA — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, currently detained in Scheveningen Prison awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, has called on Senator Robinhood Padilla to leave the Netherlands and return to the Philippines.
Duterte, chairman of the PDP-Laban party, urged Padilla, the party’s president, to bolster support for its candidates ahead of the May midterm elections.
Padilla, who traveled to The Hague with Vice President Sara Duterte to visit the former president following his March 11 arrest at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, confirmed Duterte’s request in an interview. “My presence is crucial for the party’s success,” Padilla quoted Duterte as saying.
Despite his preference to remain in The Hague, Padilla said he would comply with the party chairman’s directive, adding, “I will follow Mayor Duterte’s order.”
Duterte’s arrest stems from his controversial war on drugs, which has drawn international scrutiny. Padilla, alongside Vice President Duterte and supporters, has been monitoring the former president’s condition. He described the vice president as resilient, noting, “She’s a true warrior, leading the formation of his legal team without losing heart.”
Senate President Francis Escudero clarified that Padilla’s trip to the Netherlands was private and required no travel authority, a standard practice for senators. Padilla plans to return to The Hague later to accompany Duterte back to the Philippines once proceedings allow. Meanwhile, family, friends, and the Filipino community in the Netherlands continue to rally behind the former leader.
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