"If they ask how I'm doing, tell them invictus."
This is the message of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to his suppporters, as relayed by his daughter Veronica 'Kitty'Duterte, in an interview following her visit to the dentention facility in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Invictus is a Latin word that means unconquered or undefeated,
Kitty's visit came a day before the International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber hands down its decision regarding the former president's jurisdictional appeal.
The younger Duterte said they spent their visiting hours with her father talking more about past life experiences and future plans.
"Today was good. We talked about not much politics today, not much local news today, more of like life experiences, past experiences, and future plans. And that's why, as we were talking about the future plans, he said, again, leave it up to God because what man proposes, God disposes," she said.
"The thing is, whenever there are hearings like that, we don't talk about it to him so that whatever the decision might be, no disappointments," she added.
Kitty Duterte said her father thanked his supporters for their steadfast support, adding that her father is doing well a day before the ICC decision is released.
"So he was okay. He ate a fair amount today. Masaya naman ako kasi so long as he's okay, I'm okay," she added.
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But Kitty said that she knows how much her father misses his family; that is why they are hoping for a favorable decision from the ICC.
"So we're just really hoping. I know PRRD is hoping as well because obviously he misses his family and every time we talk about life outside, nalulungkot siya," she said.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, with alleged involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018. He was arrested March last year.
