Sara Duterte prays for father’s safe return during Zamboanga visit

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte offered prayers for the safe return of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to the Philippines during a visit to the historic Fort Pilar Shrine in Zamboanga City.

In a social media post on Sunday, Duterte said she also prayed for peace and order in the country while lighting candles and giving thanks for the blessings she had received.

The elder Duterte has been detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands, since March last year over charges of crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s war on drugs.

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His trial before the ICC Trial Chamber III is set to start on Nov. 30, after the judges declared him physically and mentally well.

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Duterte said her visit to Fort Pilar Shrine, a historic landmark frequented by devotees of Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, was part of her recent trip to Zamboanga City.

She also attended a gathering organized by Junior Chamber International (JCI) and joined the recently concluded Hermosa Festival, one of the city’s major annual celebrations.

READ: VP Duterte told: You only have yourself to blame for impeachment trial

In the photos she posted, Duterte was accompanied by Zamboanga City Vice Mayor Beng Climaco, who co-founded the “Rosa” cross-party tandem of presidential aspirant Leni Robredo and Duterte as vice president during the 2022 elections.

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“I was delighted to visit Zamboanga City again in recent days,” she said.

The Vice President ended her post with a call to love the country, saying: “Let us love the Philippines—for God, the nation, and every Filipino family.” /cb