Try him too for crimes against sovereignty

Rodrigo Duterte will be remembered for surrendering Philippine sovereignty. This, while he undergoes trial for crimes against humanity.

- JARIUS BONDOC

Examples are many:

(1) Duterte booted the Philippine Air Force out of Sangley Base, August 2019. On pretense of needing airstrips to decongest general aviation at nearby NAIA, he moved four PAF units to faraway Laguindingan field, Misamis Oriental. Manila Bay was left with scant air cover.

The 15th Strike Wing, 451st Supply Squadron, 570th Composite Tactical Wing and 1308th Dental Dispensary were promised facilities identical to what they vacated in Sangley. That never came true.

PAF lost quick access to the West Philippine Sea, which Duterte's idol Xi Jinping was then aggressing. Airmen, ground crew and dependents lost supply, dental and housing access.

Laguindingan is in northeastern Mindanao, far from action against China trespass in Palawan's Recto (Reed) Bank and Tawi-Tawi's Sibutu Strait westside.

China People's Liberation Army planes now routinely buzz those of the Philippine Coast Guard and fisheries bureau. In March 2024 a PLA attack helicopter deliberately hovered low at Sandy Cay, two nautical miles off Pag-asa Island, to fling sand and debris on Filipino marine scientists and endanger research divers.

(2) Duterte tried to also drive away the Philippine Navy from Sangley, September 2020.

Had he succeeded, PN's air squadron, sealift, commandos, engineering, communications and other specialized units would have been dispersed to various islands.

Capital city Manila and seat of power Malacañang would have been exposed to enemy attack. PN officers and personnel would have lost their largest in-base housing.

Fortunately for the country, the PN brass stood fast against Duterte.