Vice President Sara Duterte has conceded that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, may no longer be able to return to the Philippines following his recent arrest, stating that the country must now move forward.

Speaking in a virtual press conference on Thursday, Duterte revealed that she harbors no resentment or disappointment over the situation, acknowledging the reality of her father’s uncertain future.

“Sa totoo lang wala akong nararamdaman. Hindi ako galit, hindi ako disappointed. Nothing at all,” she said. “Kasi pointless naman na mag-harbor ako ng feelings about what happened. Hindi na siya maibabalik. Hindi na mababalik si Pangulong Duterte sa Pilipinas.”

(Honestly, I don’t feel anything. I’m not angry, I’m not disappointed. Nothing at all. Because it’s pointless for me to harbor feelings about what happened. He can’t be brought back. President Duterte can’t be brought back to the Philippines.)

The Vice President added that anger would serve no purpose, as she does not expect the government to hold anyone accountable for the arrest.

“So what we should do as a country is move on from what happened. What will we do as [we move] forward as a country and as a people from what happened. Magalit man tayo, walang mapupuntahan ‘yung galit natin dahil hindi naman ‘yan sila pananagutin ng pamahalaan eh,” she said.

(Even if we get angry, our anger will be pointless because the government won’t hold them accountable.)

Despite this, she maintained that efforts would continue to explore ways to bring her father back, revealing that he still dreams of serving again as mayor of Davao City.

“Dapat siguro i-demand natin sa kanila na mag-isip sila,” she said, referring to the Department of Justice. “But clearly from the answers of the secretary of the Department of Justice kanina, I don’t think they will make moves in taking back or bringing the former President home. So hahanapan na lang namin ng ibang paraan kung paano maiuwi ang ating dating Pangulo.”

(Perhaps we should demand from the government to look for ways, but clearly from the answers of the secretary of the Department of Justice earlier, I don’t think they will make moves in taking back or bringing the former President home. So we’ll just find another way to bring back home our former President.)

Addressing speculation that someone within Duterte’s camp may have betrayed him, she refrained from calling anyone a traitor but acknowledged the likelihood that confidential information was leaked.

“Hindi ko man matawag siguro na traitor, pero sigurado ako sa dami ng tao na ‘yun sa loob ng kwarto na ‘yun ay meron talagang nagsasabi kung ano ang pinag-uusapan doon sa loob. Kung kanino nila sinasabi, hindi ko alam,” she said.

(I wouldn’t call it a traitor, but I’m sure with all the people in that room, someone was really spilling what’s being said in there. I don’t know who they were telling these things to.)

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año denied having any involvement in the alleged “conspiracy” leading to Duterte’s arrest, clarifying that his role was merely to ensure the situation did not escalate into a national security threat.

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a known Duterte ally, expressed his discontent, stating that out of courtesy, Año could have at least warned Duterte’s team in Hong Kong that an arrest was imminent. Dela Rosa also admitted hearing rumors of a possible informant within Duterte’s inner circle but claimed he had no knowledge of their identity.