Vice President Sara Duterte said she is ready to join the next Senate meetings (called “hearings”) about the arrest of her dad, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Sara was invited by Senator Imee Marcos. Senator Imee is leading these meetings because she’s the head of the Senate group that handles topics about other countries, called the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Sara just came back to the Philippines after staying for more than three weeks in the Netherlands, a country in Europe. She went there to help and support her father, who is in jail in a city called The Hague.
Sara Already Joined the First Meeting (Online)
The first Senate hearing happened on March 20. Sara wasn’t in the Philippines yet, but she still joined using a video app—just like when you attend online class! But she couldn’t join the second hearing on April 3. Why? Because:
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Her schedule was very busy
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The time difference between the Netherlands and Manila made it hard
What Did Sara Say?
Sara said if there are future meetings and people want to ask her questions like:
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What happened when her dad went to Hong Kong
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What happened when he arrived in Manila
… then she’s happy to answer.
She said:
“I am open to join the future hearings if Senator Imee Marcos needs my help.”
Who Else Might Join the April 10 Hearing?
The Malacañang Palace, where the President works, said many important government officials might also go to the next hearing on April 10. These include:
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Justice Secretary Boying Remulla
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Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon
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Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan
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Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo
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Police Chief General Marbil
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And many more lawyers, police, and government workers
That’s a lot of people!
What Happened to Rodrigo Duterte?
Rodrigo Duterte, Sara’s dad and the former President, was arrested on March 11. He was flown to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands the next day. This court handles serious crimes in the world.
He is now in jail in The Hague, being accused of crimes against humanity. These are serious charges about people being hurt or killed during the “war on drugs” when he was president.
Sara arrived in the Netherlands on March 13, just before her father was taken into the jail there, called The Hague Penitentiary Institution.
