MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday expressed gratitude for the continued support her family is getting from Filipinos, as her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, celebrates his 80th birthday.

In a statement, Vice President Duterte thanked Filipinos in the Philippines, the Netherlands, and other parts of the world, who have gathered to celebrate the former president’s birthday, and to pray for his release.

“Sa mga kababayan natin sa Pilipinas, The Netherlands at iba’t ibang panig ng mundo— napakalaking bagay para kay Pangulong Duterte ang pagtitipon ninyo para sa kanyang pag-uwi at kaarawan. Maraming salamat at napapagaan nito ang mga hamon na hinaharap niya ngayon,” she said.

She also said her father knows that he will face the International Criminal Court (ICC) together with Filipinos who support him.

Vice President Duterte likewise asked for prayers for his father’s long life and release.

“Sa kanyang pagdiriwang  ng kanyang 80th birthday, huwag nating kalimutan na ipagdasal sa Diyos na sana ay biyayaan pa siya ng mas magandang kalusugan at mas mahabang buhay,” she said.

“Hilingin din natin sa Diyos na sana ay makauwi na agad si Pangulong Duterte sa Pilipinas,” the vice president added.

Duterte supporters have been mounting a series of protests here and overseas against the arrest of the former president, who is currently facing a charge for crimes against humanity over his drug war.

Aside from the Vice President, the elderly Duterte's common law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter Kitty, are currently in the Netherlands.

Duterte was arrested on March 11  on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its probe into his "war on drugs" that defined his presidency.

The ICC warrant for Duterte's 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 he was arrested.

Duterte on March 14 appeared via video link before ICC judges. He is set to attend a September 25 hearing to confirm the charges against him. 

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