Vice President Sara Duterte denied that there is an alleged request of former President Rodrigo Duterte for interim release in Australia.

The former president is in detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands since he was surrendered by the Philippines to the court on March 11. Duterte is facing charges of crimes of humanity during his war on drugs campaign.

On June 12, Duterte's lawyer filed a petition for interim release for the 80-year-old former president before the International Criminal Court.

In a televised press conference from Davao City, she confirmed the existence of an email of "certain Hasna of the Department of Foreign Relations and Trade" of Australia allegedly rejecting the request for the interim release of the former president in their country, Duterte claimed that the defense team of her father never applied for interim release in Australia.

"An email of a certain Hasna of the Department of Foreign Relations and Trade. First off, I'd like to clarify that the defense team of President Duterte never reached out to the Australian government to discuss about this interim release. There is no application of former President Duterte for interim release in Australia," Duterte said.

"This has been never, this has never been discussed with the Australian government. There was never an application with the Australian government. And there is no intent as well to apply for interim release with the Australian government," she added.

Duterte noted that based ono the submission of the lawyers of her father there were only two countries indicated for the interim release and she stressed that Australia is not one of them.

"The submission of the lawyers of President Duterte wherein there were two countries indicated in the document. I have to confirm the two countries, none of which is Australia. So I do not know, none of which is Australia. So, I do not know why," she said.

The vice president also expressed hope that his father will be able to take his oath as the new mayor of Davao City before its deadline (12 noon) of June 30.

However, Duterte explained that her brother, the newly elected second top official of Davao, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte will serve as the acting mayor of the city if their father failed to take his oath. Robina Asido/DMS