Vice President Sara Duterte dismissed a photo circulating online that allegedly shows her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, bedridden in a hospital, as "fake" and likely edited.
Speaking in a media interview, the vice president clarified that the image, which showed a man with wrist identification tags lying in a hospital bed, does not depict her father.
"Kaninang umaga may nagpadala sa akin ng photo na mukhang nasa hospital bed si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, na may dalawang band sa kamay niya. So hindi po totoo ang photo na iyon. Malamang edited yung photo na 'yon. Malamang ibang pasyente iyon. Inano lang nila ang mukha ni dating pangulong Duterte," she said.
She also stressed that her father is not confined in any hospital facility but remains in the regular wing of the detention unit where he is currently held.
"Wala po siya sa ospital ng detention unit. Nandoon po siya sa regular wing ng detention unit. At kanina, naglalakad naman siya mag-isa. May dala-dala siyang tungkod," Duterte added.
"So clearly wala siyang sakit na kumbaga na kailangan niyang maging bed-ridden."
The vice president shared that despite noticeable weight loss, her father appears healthier. "Sinasabi ko sa inyo… nabanggit din ng nanay ko, hindi lang ako ang nakapansin. Hindi nag sag ang face niya. Hindi katulad sa ating lahat na bumabagsak na ating mga mukha," she said, describing his face as firmer and with fewer wrinkles.
She noted that her father's weight loss could be linked to his diabetes and possible dietary restrictions imposed by doctors.
"He doesn’t look like the person seen standing in the background of earlier photos. I haven’t seen him this thin since he was a young man," she added.
When asked if the International Criminal Court (ICC) could release a medical bulletin or a current photograph of the former president to address public speculation, the vice president said such questions should be directed to legal counsel.
Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11 upon his arrival from Hong Kong following a warrant issued by the ICC in connection with its investigation into the bloody war on drugs under his administration. The former president was flown to The Hague in the Netherlands that same day.
He appeared via video link before ICC judges on March 14 and is scheduled to attend a confirmation of charges hearing on September 23.
The ICC alleges that Duterte, during his presidency, created, funded, and armed death squads responsible for the killings of suspected drug users and dealers.
