SENATE President Francis Escudero yesterday appealed to candidates in the midterm elections not to capitalize on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte to further their political gain.
He said candidates should not take advantage of the “diverse reactions” from Duterte supporters and critics and urged the people to be calm and to pray for the country.
“Debate and disagreement are natural in a democracy, but as we move forward, I urge our kababayans (countrymen) to approach this moment with the restraint and respect displayed yesterday (Tuesday) by the protagonists from both sides,” Escudero said in a statement.
“I also call on those running in the midterm elections to refrain from using this issue to fan the flames of partisanship in order to further their candidacies as this is a serious issue that involves lives and should not be trifled with for petty personal or political gains,” he added.
He said the people must not be swayed by any force during these trying times, and should remain united for the sake of the country.
“It is in our nation’s best interest to demonstrate our strength not by division, but by our capacity to rise above our differences and to collectively and peacefully uphold justice and accountability,” he added.
Escudero said the “peaceful and orderly” service of the arrest warrant, which was carried out without incident, is a reflection not only of the country’s commitment to upholding international agreements, but its maturity, civility, calm, and professionalism of all those involved, as well.
“As this legal process unfolds, we expect the International Criminal Court to respect the rights of former President Duterte and to ensure that he is afforded due process in accordance with the rule of law,” he added.
Duterte ally Sen. Christopher Go described Duterte’s the arrest and forced departure to the Netherlands as the “saddest day in Philippine history.”
He said Duterte only did his job for the sake of Filipinos.
In an interview at the vicinity of Villamor Air Base minutes after the jet carrying Duterte took off for The Netherlands late Tuesday, he also said Duterte, who will turn 80 this month, has various illnesses and is worried about who will take care of him while abroad.
Go also thanked those who showed support for Duterte when he was arrested until he was flown to The Netherlands.
Go was at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to welcome Duterte after the latter came back from Hong Kong Tuesday morning, but he was not allowed to see the former president.
LONG ROAD AHEAD
While Duterte’s arrest is seen as a major achievement in the pursuit of justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), Makabayan president and senatorial candidate Liza Maza tempered expectations of quick results from the trial in The Hague.
Speaking to families and survivors of the Duterte administration’s “Operation Tokhang” in Cebu City, the former Gabriela congresswoman said there is a long way to go before justice can be attained for those slain, widowed, and orphaned by unresolved killings attributed to the drug war.
Maza said the aggrieved families should continue to press for the arrest of other key public officials of the Duterte regime such as Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who served as Duterte’s police chief and principal enforcer of the war on drugs.
“We must remain vigilant. We should not stop pressuring the Marcos administration to ensure its full cooperation with the ICC proceedings. And we should not forget that Bato dela Rosa and others who played a leading role in carrying out Duterte’s murderous drug war must be arrested soon as well,” she said.
Cebu was one of the focal points of Duterte’s Operation Tokhang, where thousands were imprisoned and killed. When Duterte’s drug war escalated in 2016, over 200 people were killed in Cebu City alone within the first six months of Operation Tokhang. More than 100,000 individuals reportedly surrendered in Central Visayas, including the province of Cebu.
“It is heartbreaking to revisit the stories of the Tokhang victims, especially the children and youth killed in Duterte’s drug war. Among the thousands killed, almost all came from poor families, while big drug lords with government connections were protected,” Maza added.
One of the high-profile cases was the massacre of six people, including a minor, in Barangay Balud, San Fernando, Cebu, on Aug. 9, 2017 under the PNP’s Operation Double Barrel.
While the police claimed there was a shootout, witnesses said the victims did not resist and were unarmed when police shot them at close range. Among them was Christine Lee Silawan, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student who was visiting her father, one of the PNP’s targets, during the massacre.
SOVEREIGNTY
Teddy Casiño, chair of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and senatorial candidate, challenged the assertion of Duterte’s camp that the arrest of the former president was an attack on Philippine sovereignty.
He noted that for years, families and survivors of the brutal drug war have tried to obtain justice through the country’s court system but mostly got nowhere.
“Duterte’s brutal war on drugs left thousands of Filipinos dead, many of them innocent and defenseless. Families were torn apart, communities lived in fear, and justice remained out of reach for the victims. Despite repeated calls for accountability, our own institutions have been either unwilling or unable to deliver justice,” he said.
The intervention of the ICC, rather than a foreign imposition, is a response to individuals and families who were deprived of due process.
“It is a victory for justice. Sovereignty is not a shield for impunity; it should serve to uphold the rights and dignity of every citizen. True sovereignty means upholding the rule of law and ensuring that no one, no matter how powerful, is above accountability. Turning a blind eye to mass killings is not patriotism, it is betrayal,” Casiño said.
An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) advised public officials to learn from Duterte’s case.
“What happened to Duterte should be a reminder that power, if abused, has adverse consequences,” said Fr Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs.
Fr. Flavie Villanueva, co-founder of the Project Paghilom, said those who helped Duterte in his deadly anti-drug campaign should also be held accountable. – With Peter Tabingo and Gerard Naval
Project Paghilom is an organization that helps the families of those killed in the Duterte drug war.
“After the architect, those behind the operations must follow, starting with the two senators – Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa,” he said.
“Even his former police chiefs, who were used as tools to perpetuate the killings, should be held accountable,” he added.
