Written for The Diplomat
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is now under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he has been accused of crimes against humanity related to his government’s brutal “war on drugs,” known locally as “Tokhang.”
Duterte’s arrest agitated his supporters, who organized protest assemblies and flooded social media with vitriolic comments about the alleged persecution of their revered leader. A month after his arrest and the partial easing of the tense situation, more information is coming out about the deadly legacy of his presidency. His supporters are trying to depict him as a victim of vicious partisan politicking, but this narrative is easily debunked by a simple review of what he really accomplished and failed to do when he was president.
Can Marcos Jr Survive the Wrath of the Dutertes?
Written for The Diplomat
The Dutertes and their loyal supporters have organized marches, motorcades, and prayer rallies to protest the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 11 and his turnover into the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands.
President Marcos may have a solid plan to neutralize the Dutertes but it is the anguish of ordinary citizens reeling from high prices and low wages that he should be worried about. Even Vice President Sara Duterte is aware that the concern of the average voter is the economic crisis, which is why her arrival statement at The Hague when she visited her father focused on the need to address poverty, hunger, and joblessness in the Philippines. In other words, the most serious threat to the Marcos presidency is its own failure to fulfill the campaign promise of bringing down the price of rice and other goods, uplift the conditions of working families, and provide adequate and affordable services to the people.