On Father’s Day, Vice President Sara Duterte shared a very touching message to all the dads out there. She said thank you to fathers who stay strong even when life gets really hard, and who guide their families when everything feels scary or confusing.
Sara said that fathers are like the strong walls of a house. They help their children grow up to be good people—responsible, disciplined, and hard-working. She also said that fathers show great love and sacrifice, even if they don’t always say it out loud.
But there’s something serious going on in Sara’s own family. Her dad, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is currently in jail in The Hague, Netherlands. He is being held there because people are accusing him of doing very bad things during his time as president, especially with his war against illegal drugs.
Some say that during his campaign against drugs, thousands of people died. The police say around 6,000 people were killed, but other groups believe the number could be as high as 30,000, including some who weren’t even involved in drugs but were hurt by mistake or by vigilantes.
In her video, Sara didn’t talk about her father’s case directly, but her message sounded very personal. She said:
“Thank you to all the fathers who keep fighting, keep working, and never give up on their families. I hope you all find success.”
She added that a father’s hard work and deep love can teach young people to be brave and kind. Even when everything feels uncertain, she said fathers bring calm and safety to the family.
Back in March, her father was taken to The Hague so he could be put on trial. He had already said before that he would take full responsibility for what happened during his presidency. Now, his team is asking the court to release him and allow him to go to another country that’s willing to accept him. They say he’s not dangerous and won’t try to escape.
So while Sara is celebrating Father’s Day and praising all the good dads, her own father is in a big legal battle far away from home. What happens next? That’s something the world is still waiting to find out.
