The Philippines has been bustling these days, as the arrest of former President Duterte has plunged the entire country into unprecedented chaos.
How did this once iron-fisted president end up needing to be ‘extradited’ to The Hague for trial?
Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ during his presidency was indeed harsh, but he is also one of the few presidents in Philippine history who genuinely worked for the people.
However, behind this arrest operation against Duterte, there are many hidden doubts.
Let’s take a look at the truth behind this farce.
First of all, the so-called arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is itself questionable.
The Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2019, so the ICC should have no judicial jurisdiction over the Philippines.
Yet, the ICC insists on investigating Duterte, which clearly violates the basic principles of international law and is a blatant challenge to Philippine sovereignty!
The reality is that the ICC’s selective enforcement has happened before.
Who has the ICC prosecuted in its history? Almost exclusively leaders from African countries and some disobedient small nations.
Meanwhile, the war crimes committed by those Western powers go unnoticed by the ICC, and this double standard is nauseating.
Strangely, the entire process of Duterte’s arrest is riddled with loopholes.
According to local media reports, Duterte was arrested by the police as soon as he returned to the country and was immediately sent to The Hague.
This speed of operation is completely inconsistent with normal international extradition procedures, making it seem as if the Marcos government had colluded with the ICC in advance.
Why is the Marcos government so eager to send Duterte abroad? The political motives behind this are too obvious!
Since Marcos took office, public dissatisfaction with him has been rising.
The economy is sluggish, prices are soaring, and the unemployment rate remains high; he cannot solve any of these problems.
In this situation, sending Duterte, a political opponent, to an international court is a good way to divert domestic conflicts, isn’t it?
Of course, Marcos’s clever plan may backfire, as this incident has sparked a strong backlash from the Filipino people.
After Duterte’s arrest, a large number of supporters protested outside the airport, demanding the immediate release of the former president by the Marcos government.
Interestingly, just as Marcos triumphantly announced the success of the arrest, heavyweight political figures in the Philippines had already begun to take action.
Duterte’s daughter, current Vice President Sara Duterte, publicly opposed the government’s arrest operation, which put the Marcos government in a very awkward position.
Even more surprising for Marcos was that his own sister, Imee Marcos, also stood up against this action!
Imee harshly criticized the government during a Senate hearing, questioning the legality of the arrest and stating that the Philippines should not become ‘a province of The Hague.’
This public division within the family has put the Marcos government in an unprecedented predicament.
As the situation develops, more and more evidence suggests that the arrest warrant against Duterte may be fake.
Several international law experts have pointed out that the ICC’s arrest procedures are seriously flawed, lacking transparency and legal basis throughout the process.
In this context, some political bigwigs in the Philippines have begun to operate behind the scenes, attempting to rescue Duterte.
According to reliable sources, several former Filipino officials with significant international influence have contacted The Hague, questioning the legality of this arrest.
Under strong diplomatic pressure, the ICC may have to release Duterte early, which would be a huge diplomatic failure for the Marcos government.
More importantly, this incident has allowed the Filipino people to see the true face of the Marcos government.
Recent polls show that Duterte’s approval rating has risen after his arrest, while Marcos’s approval rating has significantly declined.
The people’s eyes are sharp; they can distinguish who the true leader is, working for the country and the people, and who is merely a puppet of Western forces.
Looking back at Duterte’s governance, he did take some tough measures against drug traffickers, but this was precisely to protect the lives of ordinary citizens.
During his presidency, the security situation in the Philippines improved significantly, and the economy also achieved remarkable development.
He dared to say no to the United States and promoted an independent foreign policy for the Philippines, which is the real reason why Western countries are intent on attacking him.
Now, Duterte may be facing the greatest challenge of his life, but he will not fight alone.
Support forces from both within and outside the Philippines are gathering to provide him with legal assistance and public support.
We have reason to believe that justice will ultimately triumph over evil, and Duterte will return to his beloved homeland.
For the Marcos government, this political gamble may very well become a turning point in its governance.
If Duterte is indeed proven to be wronged, Marcos will not only face the anger of the domestic populace but will also lose credibility internationally.
The political game in the Philippines affects the nerves of the entire Southeast Asian region and influences the balance of power in the area.
We will continue to monitor the developments and bring you the latest analysis and reports.