Sara Duterte says her father Rodrigo still remembers her

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday disputed claims that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained in The Hague, Netherlands, over crimes against humanity charges, had forgotten her.

Speaking at a press conference in Davao City, Duterte said her father recently called her, dismissing claims that the 81-year old former president could no longer remember his children.

“Yes, forgetful si PRRD, pero tumawag siya sa akin nung… bago lang. So hindi niya ako nakalimutan. Sinabihan ko siya, bakit ngayon ka lang tumawag sa akin. Ang tagal mo nang hindi tumawag,” she said.

(Yes, PRRD is forgetful, but he called me just recently. So he has not forgotten me. I told him, why are you only calling me now? It’s been so long since you last called me.)

Over the weekend, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed that Duterte could no longer determine the passage of time or recall the names of his children and grandchildren.

The claim comes as Duterte’s defense team continues to challenge his fitness to stand trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing alleged cognitive and memory problems.

The ICC has ordered an updated assessment of Duterte’s fitness for the trial phase, after an earlier assessment found him fit to participate in pretrial proceedings.

According to the vice president, her father told her during their call, “Wala lang. Nangamusta lang ako sa imoha.”

(He said, ‘Nothing. I just wanted to check on you’.)

“Sabi niya ikaw kasi ang tumawag sa akin,” she said.

(He said, “You should be the one to call me.”)

Duterte said she explained to her father that she could not call him directly and that he had to ask the authorities at his detention facility to connect him to her.

“Sabi ko, hindi nga kasi pwede. Dapat ikaw ang magsabi doon sa—diyan sa loob na tawagan mo ako. Kasi hindi man kami maka-dial, makatawag doon papasok. Pwede lang palabas siya tumawag,” she added.

(I said, “No, because it’s not possible. You have to tell those inside there to call me. Because we can’t dial or make calls to them. He can only make outgoing calls.”)

Duterte said she did not tell her father about what was happening to her.

“Actually, wala namang nangyayari sa akin. Political lang naman lahat ang nangyayari. Sinabi ko lang sa kanya na bibisita ako sa ganito na dates, okay lang ba sa’yo. Sabi niya sige, okay na ’yan,” she said.

(Actually, nothing is happening to me. Everything that is happening is just political. I just told him that I would visit on these dates, is that okay with you? He said, “Sure, that’s okay.”)

Duterte is facing an impeachment trial over allegations that she made grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others, misused confidential funds, had unexplained wealth and engaged in bribery.

She is also facing three counts of grave threats before a Quezon City court.

In September, dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. claimed that he delivered cash to Sara Duterte, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte and the former President Rodrigo Duterte, allegedly on the instructions of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Duterte is facing crimes against humanity charges before the ICC in connection with killings linked to his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and later when he was president.— MCG, GMA News

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