THE daughters of former president Rodrigo Duterte released greetings to their father as he celebrates his 81st birthday on March 28 in incarceration.
For a year now, Duterte has been in the custody of the International Criminal Court at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity in relation to his war on drugs.
In a video message on Saturday, Vice President Sara Duterte thanked the parallel support groups, volunteers and the “millions of Filipinos” in the Philippines and abroad who organized celebrations to honor him.
“Your loyalty to him is a testament to a leadership that truly prioritized the safety and dignity of every Filipino family,” Sara said.
She said the defense of his rights as a Filipino is a defense of national sovereignty, urging everyone to be vigilant against the weaponization of the law and the unconstitutional intrusion of foreign bodies that seek to bypass Filipino courts.
“Our justice system must remain independent, serving only the mandate of the Filipino people and never the interests of foreign powers,” Sara said.
Meanwhile, in a post on her official Instagram account, Veronica Duterte said she will be “forever 12” years old whenever she is with her father, whom she described as her “mirror.”
“I am right in front of you, like a mirror resembling in your character, bravery, grit, volition — but not even half your heart. I am just fine being in your shadow because I know no one can replace your heart,” Veronica, also known as Kitty, said.
Kitty said she now understands that loving him to the point of truly knowing him revealed that he is a “difficult person, but it’s either I love you or I don’t. I sacrifice for you or I don’t. I choose you or I don’t. I fight with you or I don’t. It’s always all or nothing.”
“Only now have I understood, now that I’m turning 22 and have put you first, through it all and above all,” Kitty said.
She said the greatest gift she could give to her father is to be “strong like you and strong for you.”
The former president’s party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, also greeted its chairman, saying members are “deeply grateful” for his visionary leadership and the unwavering courage he showed in serving the Filipino people.
“Your legacy of ‘Tapang at Malasakit’ (Strength and Compassion) continues to inspire us as we work together toward a better future for the nation,” the party said.
Lawyer Paolo Panelo said fighting before the Supreme Court for his writ of habeas corpus case is “one of the greatest honors” of his life.
“Not only because it is a landmark case that only a few lawyers will ever experience in their lifetimes, but more so because I am fighting for what is right for someone I care about and admire,” said Panelo, son of Duterte’s former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.
