Vice President Sara Duterte Addresses Edited Photo of Duterte
Vice President Sara Duterte has cautioned the public about a manipulated photo of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, that is circulating on social media. The image shows the former president lying in a hospital bed, which Sara strongly denies as authentic. She insists the photo is edited and does not depict her father accurately.
“It’s not true that that’s his photo. That photo is not true; that photo was probably edited. That’s a different patient; they just changed the face of former President Duterte,” she stated in Filipino. The vice president urged people to be cautious when sharing such misleading images online.
Clarifying Duterte’s Health and Location
Sara Duterte also clarified that her father is not confined in the detention hospital wing of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Instead, he is in the regular hospital area. She mentioned that earlier, the former president was seen walking alone with a cane, proving that he is not gravely ill.
“Earlier, he was walking alone. He was carrying a cane. So, clearly, he wasn’t sick,” she said. Despite significant weight loss, Sara noted that Duterte appears to be physically well.
Observations on Former President Duterte’s Condition
According to Sara, her father has lost considerable weight, remarking, “I’ve never seen him this thin except in a photo of him when he was young.” Yet, she pointed out that his face remains firm and shows no sagging despite his slim figure.
“His face didn’t sag. Unlike all of us whose faces are sagging,” she added with a touch of humor. She also speculated that the former president might be managing his weight due to his diabetes.
“I was wondering. I told my mom, maybe there’s beauty inside, glowing but thin. That’s what I said too, maybe he’s just controlling his weight because he’s diabetic,” Sara explained.
Calls for Official Health Updates
The vice president suggested that her father’s lawyer could request an official health bulletin from the ICC. She believes the court can also release an updated photo to help clear up any confusion regarding Duterte’s condition.
Background on Duterte’s ICC Case
Former President Duterte was taken into ICC custody last March after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. He faces charges related to alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s war on drugs. The confirmation of charges hearing is scheduled provisionally for September 23, 2025.
Official government figures report that the drug war claimed at least 6,000 lives. However, human rights groups and ICC prosecutors estimate the death toll could be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019. Many of these deaths are suspected to be extrajudicial killings, local leaders noted.
For more news and updates on former President Duterte’s health and ICC case, visit Filipinokami.com.
