Duterte's bluff and bluster

Former president Rodrigo Duterte (fPRRD) outwitted them all, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

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.