Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday said she is not neglecting her duties as the second highest official of the Philippines even as she remains in the Netherlands to help form the legal team of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

This was her response when asked about Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro’s remark on Wednesday, reminding her that she is the incumbent vice president with responsibilities here in the country.

In a virtual presser Thursday, Duterte said while she ‘perfectly understands’ Castro’s sentiment, she clarified that she also has a responsibility to a Filipino citizen allegedly "held against his will" at the ICC detention facility.

“So wag na nating isipin na tatay ko siya, isipin na lang natin na vice president ako at gumagawa ako ng paraan kung paano maibalik natin ang isang Filipino citizen sa ating bayan at hindi ko nakakalimutan ang aking trabaho diyan sa OVP, araw-araw kaming nag-uusap ng aming kasamahan,” the vice president stated.

She said that she is not remiss of her duties as vice president and has no plans to reside in the Netherlands.

“Multitasking ako. Nandito ako as vice president, ginagawan ng paraan paano maibalik ang ating dating pangulo sa ating bayan. Nagtatrabaho ako through our satellite offices, through our central office of the OVP, tuluy-tuloy ang serbisyo namin sa bayan at yes wala po akong balak na tumira dito sa the Netherlands. Hindi ko po gustong tumagal dito,” she noted.

The second-in-command added that she is used to balancing work due to her experience as local chief executive.

Duterte also said that her office is “okay” in detention.

“Kung anuman 'yung naiwan na projects sa maliit namin na budget ngayong taon na ito ay tumutuloy po siya, daily po ang communication namin ng aming usec. and asec. ng OVP,” the vice president stated.

However, Duterte admitted that while she has a return ticket to the Philippines scheduled in April, her return date remains uncertain.

“Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako dito sa totoo lang dahil hindi pa nabuo yung legal team ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. As vice president, may obligasyon ako na buuin yung kanyang support group dito para merong tumutulong sa kanya na makalabas diyan sa ICC detention,” she said.

Her father Rodrigo was arrested last March 11 after returning home from a trip from Hong Kong in the face of rumors an ICC warrant had been issued.

The ICC warrant for his arrest says that as president, Duterte created, funded and armed death squads that carried out murders of purported drug users and dealers.

He was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day to face charges of alleged crimes against humanity for his deadly drug war.

 Duterte on March 14 appeared via video link before ICC judges in a hearing branded by the Palace as a "fair trial." He is set to attend a September 23 hearing to confirm the charges against him.