23/09/2025
The International Criminal Court's (ICC) on Rodrigo Duterte's case—citing three filed cases related to 78 killings (19 during his 10-year mayoral term, 14 "high-value targets" during his 6-year presidential term, and 45 during barangay clearances in 2016 and 2018)—and he is considered as an "indirect co-perpetrator," raises critical questions about the Philippine justice system's efficacy. Is the system so flawed that it necessitates the intervention from the ICC?
This issue is heightened when considering these tragic events in our nation's history:
• MARAWI SEIGE: A five-month conflict resulting in 1,130 deaths: 45 civilians, 165 soldiers, and 920 militants.
• MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE: A single-day atrocity where 58 individuals, including media personnel, were murdered.
• HACIENDA LUISITA MASSACRE: A one-day incident leaving 14 dead, 26 wounded, and 170 arrested.
As a non-partisan, pro-Filipino individual, my priority is the welfare of all Filipinos. I recognize and value positive progress and effective governance under various leaders. However, I refuse to blindly follow trends or be close-minded to the realities in the Philippines. However, I remain vigilant, refusing to blindly follow trends or ignore the realities in the Philippines, ensuring that neither anger nor emotional biases cloud my judgment. I am committed to recognizing and supporting actions that genuinely benefit the Filipino people.
Furthermore, I firmly believe that the PERVASIVE CORRUPTION among our officials has resulted in a far GREATER LOSS OF LIFE than the incidents listed above. This corruption manifests in various forms, leading to deaths from hunger, inadequate disaster response during floods, and a severely underfunded healthcare system.