THE Hague – Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has returned to the Netherlands ahead of her 47th birthday, where she is set to reunite with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) confirmed that Sara Duterte will meet the former president in The Hague on May 30 and again from June 2 to 3.
She is also scheduled to mark her birthday on May 31 by joining a peaceful assembly outside the ICC headquarters, organized by various Filipino community groups.
“The Vice President will participate in a peaceful gathering organized by various Filipino community groups in front of the ICC,” the OVP said in a statement. She is expected to return to the Philippines on June 4.
Sara Duterte previously revealed that the trip was partly a personal commitment to accompany her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, to visit the former president.
She also vowed to take a more active role in her father’s legal battle following the May 2025 midterm elections, where candidates aligned with the Duterte family secured five of twelve Senate seats.
Former President Duterte is under investigation by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity related to the thousands of drug-related killings under his administration’s controversial anti-narcotics campaign.
While the Philippines formally exited the Rome Statute in 2019, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.
In previous statements, the Vice President expressed that among her birthday wishes is for her father’s release and eventual return to the Philippines.