VICE-PRESIDENT Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday criticized the “wellness check” conducted by officials of the Philippine Embassy in The Hague on her father, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
In a statement, she said that the supposed welfare check was done without the knowledge of family members, as the ex-president who is detained in the International Criminal Court (ICC).
She claimed that Philippine officials had entered Mr. Duterte’s detention unit under the pretense of a “welfare check” and interviewed the ex-President.
The fire brand leader has been charged by the international tribunal with three counts of murder in connection to his bloody war on drugs, he was arrested by the International Criminal Police Organization last March.
Ms. Duterte added that these officials had “clearly abused” the rules of the detention unit concerning consular visits.
“If such sham ‘welfare checks’ are allowed to continue, then the ICC and the Philippine Government must be prepared to answer fully and directly, for any harm that comes to former president Duterte — including, should the worst happen, his death in custody as a direct result of these intrusions,” Ms. Duterte said.
The vice-president also alleges that the government has not done any welfare check to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that are detained or neglected.
“That’s a big lie,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing. “All the needs of our countrymen abroad, especially OFWs, are being met by the government.”
Citing the Department of Migrant Workers, she added that all request by OFWs have been met by the agency.
“The statement of the Vice-President is not helping the OFWs, it is another fake news,” she added.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that it was in line with international laws to protect the welfare of Filipinos
“This is a duty of all Philippine Foreign Service Posts and is no different from what the DFA does for other Filipino citizens who are in detention abroad,” the agency said. — Adrian H. Halili