MANILA – Malacañang questioned Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio for her remarks that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, might get assassinated like Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. if he insists on returning to the Philippines.
According to Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro, it is surprising where Duterte-Carpio got her words about supposed death threats to her father.
“’Yan po ang nakakapagtaka. Saan nakukuha ang mga kwento na ito? Saan nakukuha ang pagkukumpara kay Ninoy Aquino? Saan nakukuha ang mga threats?” Castro said in a media briefing at the Malacañang Palace.
“As a matter of fact, hanggang ngayon yung mga threats kay VP Sara, hindi pa rin napapakita sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) saka sa PNP (Philippine National Police),” she added.
Castro also called out Duterte-Carpio for comparing her father to Aquino, a former senator and staunch critic of the Marcos Sr. administration who was assassinated upon his return to the country after three years of exile in the United States in 1983.
“Parang hindi natin nadinig noon na inihalintulad ni dating Pangulong Duterte ang sarili nya kay Ninoy, kundi kay (German dictator Adolf) Hitler,” Castro said.
In a speech before the Filipino community at the Het Malieveld Park in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday, Duterte-Carpio shared that her father has insisted on returning to the country.
“At ‘yon ang gusto niya, gusto niyang umuwi. Sinabi ko din sa kanya yon, ‘Pa, sabi ko ‘yung kagustuhan mo na umuwi, iyan din ‘yung katapusan ng buhay mo, magiging Ninoy Aquino Jr. ka,’” Duterte-Carpio said.
“At sinabi niya sa akin, sabi nya, ‘Kung ganyan ang kapalaran ko, then so be it. Basta lang mauwi ako sa Pilipinas,’” the Vice President added.
Duterte was brought to The Hague under an ICC arrest warrant on crimes against humanity of murder in connection with his administration’s bloody war on drugs campaign.
The former President faced the Pre-Trial Chamber on March 14 to officially hear the charges against him and to be informed of his rights. His next appearance before the chamber is scheduled on September 23 for the confirmation of charges./PN
