When I watched former president Rodrigo Duterte appear in the ICC pre-trial session, I saw not the commanding figure of his presidency, but an old man, frail and burdened. His physical state betrayed his vulnerability, while his demeanor reflected an internal storm – psycho-emotional turmoil and a soul tender with unspoken pain. It was a poignant reminder for me, as a writer, to tread gently. Words, after all, carry weight.
As I pen this piece, I know the responsibility of writing about him. The cares and worries of his loved ones and supporters linger in the background, and my words have the power to either deepen his wounds or offer a lifeline. In these fragile moments, I find guidance in scripture, particularly in the words of Jesus I read this morning, as follows:
“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” Matthew 5:44-45
Reflecting on this, I recall two pertinent ATABAY articles I wrote, both inspired by my scriptural readings and both eerily foreshadowed the state of political affairs. The first, titled Letter To Inday Sara Supporter Who Is Also My Friend, served as a fair warning to a friend about Sara’s predicament upon joining Bongbong Marcos’ party, as I wrote below:
“Bongbong is running under the umbrella of multiple parties with a throng of vested interests. Aiming now for the 2028 presidency is a horde of younger and ambitious breed of second-generation leaders emerging from a band of dynastic political clans embedded in Bongbong’s camp.”
The now-infamous terms “defunct UniTeam,” “tambaloslos,” and “impeachment” encapsulate the consequences of what I described as a Faustian bargain - a deal sacrificing immense moral value for power. The fallout is evident: existential regret (FPRRD: “Bakit ka tatakbong bise na alam mong lamang ka?”), isolation (headline: “As the impeachment process plays out, Sara Duterte is abandoned by her allies in Congress”), and chaos (live: Rodrigo Duterte under trial at ICC).
The second article, MIF & ICC: How Two Notices Reveal The Contradictions of PBBM’s Economic Vision, published on July 22, 2023, juxtaposed two conflicting messages: “Open for business” and “Leave us alone.” The former signaled the launch of the Maharlika Investment Fund to the international market. The latter reflected President Marcos’ defiance, as seen in the headline: "Marcos: PH ending all involvement with ICC.”
In January 26, 2025 ATABAY article, MIF & ICC: Two Sides of The Same Coin, I pointed out that rightly and not surprisingly, the latest developments have grabbed the headline: “Philippines to respond favorably if ICC seeks Interpol” – Reuters. The Philippines has decidedly figured out its contradiction, for sure, not because they read my ATABAY’s insight, lest, they would be deemed as procrastinators for the two-year lapse in opportunity. PBBM rationale: “This is what the international community expect of us.” Spot on.
Embedded in these articles, and Duterte’s recent arrest, is the theme of fear. Not the human fear Duterte once wielded to instill control, but a reverential fear. C. S. Lewis, in The Problem of Pain, describes this as “Dread” – a fear not of danger, but of the uncanny, the unknown. This Dread is palpable in Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa’s recent interview, where he deflected questions about the ICC with nervous humor, revealing a deeper unease.
“May kinatatakutan po ba kayo sa ICC? Sa tutuo lang”
“Karen, ikaw, hindi ka ba takot na mapasok sa kulungan?”
One wonders where Bato’s reply is coming from since the ICC facility of Duterte as shown to the public is designed to provide safe, secure, and humane conditions. The final exchange gave the clue away:
“May nagawa ba kayong… naniniwala kayong…” Davila asks.
“Ibang istorya yan… Huwag natin pag-usapan yan…” he cuts in.
Bato dreaded to open the Pandora’s box. It unveils fear that has to do with punishment. Such a lingering fear so spooks Bato that it even prompted him in seeking the Senate protection – a spineless act cutting down his muscular frame to wimpy size.
In my ATABAY article Duterte Arrest & The ICC: A Bitter Pill To Healing, I shared the cryptic message formed by optical illusion reflected by a pile of stones: “The stones will cry out.” Drawn from Jesus words in the Bible (Luke 19:40): “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.” Ominously, “they” appears to be the silenced victims of Duterte’s bloody drug war. No wonder Bato has been frightened out of his wits.
Yet, this fear need not be paralyzing. There is a path forward – a reverential fear that leads to wisdom, as Proverbs 9:10 reminds us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
This wisdom is exemplified in the transformation of Charles Colson, as recounted in his book Born Again.
“In one sense I had lost everything - power, prestige, freedom, even my identity. In the summer of 1974, as a prisoner number 23226 at Maxwell Federal Prison Camp, I stared at the screen of a small black-and -white television set. Along with the rest of the country, I watched as President Richard Nixon, whom I had served faithfully for three-and-a-half years, resigned his office. It was one of the most desolate experiences of my life.
“But in another sense, I had found everything, all that really matters: a personal relationship with the living God. My life had been dramatically transformed by Jesus Christ.”
The above words were taken from the Foreword of his book which, interestingly, was the same book that Ninoy Aquino’s mother sent him while in prison. Colson writes:
“One night Aquino knelt in his jail and gave his life to Jesus Christ. Overcome with grief for his anger toward God, he begged forgiveness. His viewpoints, his life, most of all his bitterness – all changed. He had a sense that his life had suddenly moved into a different channel with another purpose.”
Duterte himself has admitted to reading the Bible, particularly Ecclesiastes 3, which begins:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die.”
Perhaps, like Ninoy, Duterte’s time has come – not to die, but to be born again.
To my dear friend and Duterte supporter, let us pray that your “Tatay” finds his path to redemption and healing. Just as Ninoy’s legacy transformed through faith, so too can your Tatay’s story find a new chapter – one of grace, wisdom, and renewal.
Content & editing put together in collaboration with Microsoft Bing AI-powered Co-pilot
Head photo courtesy of Freepik
Still photos courtesy of ICC & BBC
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