There is no Filipino lawyer being considered yet to be included in the legal team that will defend former President Rodrigo Duterte in his case at the International Criminal Court, according to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Speaking to reporters, Vice President Duterte said they are still in the process of completing the legal team, and so far there is no Filipino lawyer being considered.

"Wala pa pong Filipino lawyers ngayon, 'yun ay ginagawan ng shortlist sa ngayon," she said.

She also said she has to get all the lawyers appointed and cleared by the court before she can go back to the Philippines.

"Just until I get all the lawyers appointed by the court they need to be vetted cleared by the court and once they’re all appointed then I can come and go already," Duterte added.

The vice president has been in The Hague to deal with matters regarding her father's case since the former president was arrested on March 11.

She earlier said that her father has advised her to go home but she is still waiting for other members of their family to come before she can return to the country.

BIRTHDAY PLANS

According to Vice President Duterte, her sister Kitty and her mother, Honeylet Avanceña, will be arriving in the Netherlands in time for the elder Duterte's birthday.

She also said she has already applied for permission for both Kitty and Avanceña to be able to visit former President Duterte on his birthday.

"Binigay ko lahat ng schedule kay Cielito (Avanceña) at Veronica, napag-usapan naman namin 'yun and we all agreed na ganon ang gagawin na sa kanila lahat habang sila ay nandito dahil limited yung time nila as compared sa akin okay lang," Vice President Duterte said.

Vice President Duterte also advised their supporters to just gather on their own to celebrate the former president's birthday on March 28, since they would need to seek permission from the Dutch government if there will be a big gathering of his supporters.

"Maybe mag kanya kanya na lang tayo ng picnic kung gusto niyo nang ganon at wala nang program para hindi na tayo kailangan magpaalam ba kasi it’s not a rally, it’s not a protest, it’s just a birthday picnic and then you can gather kung ano yung grupo niyo kayo yung magsama," she said.

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'HE WANTS TO GO HOME'

Vice President Duterte also clarified that it was her who said that her father might suffer the same fate as assassinated former Senator Ninoy Aquino, and not former President Duterte.

"Hindi naman si dating Pangulong Duterte ang nagsasabi na magiging Ninoy Aquino siya, ang nagsabi non ako at hindi si pangulong Duterte. Those were my fears for the life of my father based on history," she said.

She, however, clarified that her father wants to go home.

"Let me be clear that President Duterte wants to go home. Wants to go back to Davao City," Vice President Duterte said.

"Yun ang sinasabi niya everytijme na pumupunta ako doon, kelan ako makakauwi, timelines, ganyan. Gusto niya talagang umuwi ng Davao City," she added.

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Ex-president Duterte confident he has 'no case' to answer at ICC, says VP Sara

The Duterte patriarch was arrested on a warrant from the International Criminal Court last March 11 after returning home from a trip from Hong Kong. 

The ICC warrant for his arrest said that as president, the 79-year-old 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.