Sara Duterte: Nothing wrong with visiting friends in jail

Screengrabbed from Vice President Sara Duterte’s interview (Video courtesy of the Office of the Vice President)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday said she does not see anything wrong with her visits to detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and former Rep. Mike Defensor, whom she described as her friends.

“I don’t see anything wrong with visiting persons deprived of liberty (PDLs),” Duterte told reporters in Davao City after attending a Thanksgiving Mass for the Kadayawan Festival.

“Wala akong nakikitang masama sa pagbisita… kasi kilala ko naman sila and I think kaibigan ko sila. Hindi ko lang alam kung kaibigan nila ako pero sa tingin ko naman kaibigan ko sila,” Duterte added.

(I don’t see anything wrong with visiting them… because I know them, and I think they’re my friends. I just don’t know whether they consider me their friend, but I believe they’re my friends.)

The vice president made the remark after being asked about her recent visits to the said political figures, which the interviewer said had drawn public attention.

Duterte said she had also visited detainees even when she was still mayor of Davao City, emphasizing that PDLs should be given sympathy and empathy.

On Wednesday, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology confirmed that Duterte visited the Quezon City jail where she also met with Marcoleta, Estrada, and Defensor.

Marcoleta and Defensor were committed to the Quezon City Jail last July over plunder charges in connection with P75 million in donations that the senator received from the former congressman and two businessmen in 2025.

Meanwhile, Estrada was committed to the Quezon City Jail last June in connection with a plunder charge related to the flood control scandal.

Asked what she advised the detained officials, Duterte said, “Wala uy, Ginoo ko, ako pa ba ang magpayo sa senador.” (Wala uy, Diyos ko, ako pa ba ang magpayo sa senador)

(Nothing, my God, who am I to be giving advice to a senator?)

But she said her message was: “Kung ano yung para sa bayan, yun ang gawin ninyo… sabi ko, magpakatatag.”

(“Whatever is for the good of the country, that’s what you should do… I said, stay strong.”)

Duterte is currently facing trial before the Senate impeachment court over allegations that include the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and an alleged threat against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. /gsg