Ex-Pres Duterte fears election fraud in 2025 polls – VP Duterte

Former President Rodrigo Duterte files a Certificate of Candidacy for Davao City mayor on October 7, 2024. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Rodrigo Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his apprehension about the possible vote padding and shaving in the upcoming midterm polls, according to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

The vice president said this was her conversation with her father when she visited him at a detention center in The Hague on March 22.

“So, iyon ‘yung napag-usapan kanina, iyong kampanya at eleksyon na nangyayari sa ating bayan. At nag-express din siya ng fears niya, apprehensions niya, sa baka merong mangyaring dagdag-bawas, iyong mga ganoon na mga usapan sa eleksyon, sa halalan,” Vice President Duterte said in an interview after her visit.

(So, that was the discussion earlier—about the campaign and elections happening in our country. He also expressed his fears and apprehensions about possible vote padding and shaving and other election-related concerns.)

The vice president said her father is also asking how he could return to the Philippines as he runs for Davao City mayor.

Former President Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 on the order of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is facing a case for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his administration’s drug war. He has since arrived in The Hague, where he is currently being held.

He had his pretrial hearing at the ICC on March 14, while the confirmation of charges is scheduled for September 23, and he may appeal for an interim release before that date.

The drug war claimed at least 6,000 lives, according to official government data.

However, human rights watchdogs and the ICC prosecutor estimated the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019, as they noted that many of these incidents were extrajudicial killings.