Duterte’s bluff and bluster

For all intents and purposes, former president Rodrigo Duterte (fPRRD) outwitted them all, including the International Criminal Court (ICC). In fairness to the ICC, they have been unwittingly dragged by rabid Duterte foes into this telenovela episode of Philippine politics. To borrow fPRRD’s own words, let’s get this “drama” over and done with.

Like in the denouement in a Filipino-style zarzuela, the lead character does the takeaway lines before the curtain comes down. In the climax of this particular “drama,” the accused admitted to his alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of illegal drug suspects while he was at Malacañang Palace.

With much aplomb, the 79-year-old fPRRD gave this parting shot to the ICC: start probe before I die.

It was a calculated risk on the part of fPRRD to issue such a public dare to the ICC. After all, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) did not reverse his predecessor’s decision in March 2019 to keep the Philippines out of the ICC. As of February 2024, the ICC has 124 member-states.

The Hague-based ICC initiated its initial interest to look into the alleged EJKs in October 2016. A self-styled human rights lawyer submitted to the ICC a complaint of “crimes against humanity” against then incumbent president in February 2017. From then on, the proverbial “sword of Damocles” hung over the head of fPRRD despite the Philippines being effectively out of the ICC.

Although no longer an ICC member, PBBM immediately clarified that the Philippine government remains steadfastly committed to the Interpol, being the world’s chief law enforcement body. In fact, PBBM reaffirmed this policy to stay out of the ICC a day after fPRRD finally appeared at and participated in the quad comm hearing.

Visibly trying to control his much-vaunted use of profanity, fPRRD was unfazed by the House body composed of four different standing House committees specifically tasked to look into, among others, the thousands of reported EJKs during his administration.

During and after his presidency, fPRRD kept to his public declarations that he and he alone takes full responsibility for his anti-illegal drugs war policy. For more dramatic flair, he reiterated this at the quad comm, even if he will be jailed for it.

No less than his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte got wowed by fPRRD’s “best actor” performance when she unexpectedly attended the House quad committee public hearing. On a scale of one to 10, she gave fPRRD a grade of 12, more than a perfect score.

Actually, it was the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee that got the first crack at fPRRD with its legislative inquiry on the EJK cases last Oct. 28. This is another specially created probe body in the 19th Congress, chaired by Senate minority leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who first quizzed fPRRD on his administration’s “bloody” war against illegal drugs.

At this Senate subcommittee, fPRRD reaffirmed his accepting full responsibility – as the commander-in-chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – on the “Oplan Tokhang” and “Project: Double-Barrel” campaigns against illegal drugs. With no offers of apology, fPRRD declared he is ready to face the consequences of this policy to protect the public interest, especially the Filipino families, from this scourge.

It was also in this Senate public hearing that fPRRD first had a face-to-face meeting – just one seat away – with former senator Leila de Lima. She got detained for almost six years but was acquitted one after the other on three illegal drugs-related cases. These were filed after she revived the EJKs perpetrated reportedly by the Davao Death Squad as directed by then mayor Duterte.

After more than seven hours of Senate grilling, fPRRD turned gun shy when the quad comm invited him to also appear before them. He initially begged off twice from the invitation to appear as “resource person” in the House quad comm.

At first, fPRRD asked to reset it after the long All Saints’ Day holiday weekend because he had already flown back to his retirement house in Davao City. Presently aided by a walking cane, he conceded he is no longer physically up to the rigors of long flights. Besides, plane fares are expensive, he added. The second time he declined the House quad comm invite was transmitted through his designated chief legal counsel Martin Delgra.

In a four-page letter, Delgra disclosed his client doubted the fairness, integrity and probity of un-named members of the House quad comm. He also echoed fPRRD’s laments on the reported “pressure” on some of the quad comm witnesses to testify on accusations against his client.

But last Sunday when fPRRD flew to Manila again for his regular medical check-up, he suddenly changed his mind. Since fPRRD was already in Manila, his erstwhile executive secretary Salvador Medialdea quoted fPRRD telling him: “Let’s do it.” As it turned out, however, the House quad comm had already decided to cancel the Nov. 13 public hearing.

Amid criticisms that they chickened out from confronting fPRRD and surprised by the sudden turn of events, the House quad comm decided to proceed with the originally set hearing. But the House quad comm exacted sweet revenge on fPRRD. Not only was he made to sit beside De Lima, another former senator, Antonio Trillanes IV, revived the May 2016 presidential elections “bank waiver” challenge. Trillanes tried to show the alleged money trail of the illegal drug trade purportedly going to the Duterte’s Philippine bank accounts.

Kudos to Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert “Ace” Barbers for handling well the quad comm hearing that turned out to be a 14-hour marathon session. Interrupted by bursts of emotions every now and then, Barbers got fPRRD to consciously refrain from using foul language to his former colleagues in Congress.

Duterte served as congressman from 1998 to 2001 in the 11th Congress. But he served longest as Davao City mayor and vice mayor in between breaks until 2016.

Notwithstanding his age, fPRRD announced he will run again as mayor in Davao City. Admitting he wants this as “leverage” against political attacks on him, the firebrand fPRRD apparently still has the bluff and bluster to do so.