THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Vice President Sara Duterte revealed that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, has expressed his wish to be cremated in the Netherlands if he dies while in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
In an interview during her visit to the Netherlands, VP Duterte shared that the 79-year-old former leader had already made his final request clear: that his body not be repatriated to the Philippines in the event of his death while in ICC custody.
“He said that if he dies here in the Netherlands, his body should not be brought back to the Philippines. He wants to be cremated here and for his ashes to be sent home,” said Vice President Duterte.
She added that they had differing views on cremation, noting, “I told him we can talk about it another time because I’m not pro-cremation—but he is.”
When asked how she reacted to her father’s statement, VP Duterte said it was a natural conversation for someone his age.
“It’s good that we all know what his last wishes are, so we can fulfill them when the time comes,” she said.
The Vice President also disclosed that her father has become physically frail since his detention, describing him as “skin and bones.”
Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Davao City on March 11 by Philippine authorities based on a warrant issued by the ICC, where he now faces charges of crimes against humanity over the thousands of extrajudicial killings allegedly committed during his controversial war on drugs.
He is currently detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague.