Another ‘Free Duterte Now’ rally set in The Hague

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte will lead another “Free Duterte Now” rally in The Hague, Netherlands today to demand the release of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who rezmains in the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s custody over charges of crimes against humanity.

“We will have a rally on Wednesday, July 29 in front of the ICC. It is a ‘Free Duterte Now’ rally and we will talk about the injustice that was done to (former) president Rodrigo Duterte,” The Vice President said.

“I informed president Duterte about it and told him, ‘I don’t think this will help your case.’ We’ve noticed from previous rallies that the ICC takes note of what we say and uses it as a basis for their decisions. He asked, ‘Why hold a rally? What for?’ I replied, just so we can vent our anger and so the whole world can hear the Filipinos’ outrage over what was done to you,” she said.

She left the country on July 16 and is expected to stay in The Hague until July 31.

Her father’s defense counsel, Peter Haynes, said he does not expect the former president’s crimes against humanity trial at the ICC to take more than two years, which is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30, subject to a finding of his fitness to stand trial.