IS JUSTICE REALLY SERVED? OR WAITING FOR HELL TO BREAK LOOSE?
Justice, they say, is the foundation of any democracy. But if recent events are any indicator, justice in the Philippines is nothing more than a smokescreen, a battlefield where the powerful play their cards while the victims remain voiceless, their cries drowned out by political grandstanding. The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte has become less of a legal proceeding and more of a spectacle—a tragedy turned into a soap opera, with his supporters wailing at the injustice of their fallen idol while conveniently ignoring the blood-soaked reality of his regime.
The Illusion of Sovereignty
Duterte, facing charges of crimes against humanity due to his administration’s war on drugs, has labeled his detention as illegal. Flanked by former officials and allies, the ex-president stood at Villamor Airbase, demanding legal justification for his arrest, as if the crimes he stands accused of were mere fabrications. Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea echoed Duterte’s stance, emphasizing that the Philippines had withdrawn from the International Criminal Court (ICC), suggesting that the country should no longer be bound by its authority. But here lies the irony—sovereignty is not a shield for impunity. If the Philippine justice system had done its job, international intervention would not have been necessary.
For years, justice was selective. Victims of extrajudicial killings never had their day in court. Due process was an afterthought as police carried out drug war operations, often resulting in bloodstained streets and lifeless bodies branded as collateral damage. Now that the legal machinery has finally caught up to Duterte, his allies cry foul, as though due process is suddenly sacred. The hypocrisy is deafening.
To be honest, it's easier to say that his arrest was redescribed as a "death of sovereignty" when in fact it isn't. The failure to put him and his ilk into justice, the downplaying of truths in favor of their narratives, begs the question: does justice in the country truly address the problem, especially for those who are the end victims of the drug war and other actions brought by the past administration? Yes, "God Save the Philippines" as they say, trying to appeal to God for that situation, yet in fact putting scorn upon the victims, pretending they're collateral damage—if not making the concerned recall that the God whom they're pleading to is the same "stupid God" their patron babbled about years ago.
The Fanatics in Disarray
As Duterte’s supporters scramble to salvage his image, their responses oscillate between melodrama and outright absurdity. Former NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lorraine Badoy dismisses the charges, comparing the Interpol notice to a forged document from Recto—a ridiculous attempt at downplaying international legal mechanisms. Meanwhile, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque calls on the masses to gather at EDSA, as if another People Power revolution would materialize to shield a leader accused of crimes against humanity.
Then there’s Senator Bong Go, taking a more passive approach by urging the public to pray. But pray for what? The victims of the drug war, who will never see justice? Or the man who once mocked religion, calling God “stupid,” only for his supporters to invoke divine intervention on his behalf? The contradictions are laughable, the desperation palpable.
Sorry if this can't get over as news is churned to and fro about the situation. But to hear from his supporters, their whining only adds ridicule or pity for them. One calls for prayer, another to mobilize in the streets, one blames the administration and the opposition, the other blames the law. Damn, is this a Stirner moment? Regardless of their statements, of their threats, the justice system "sucks," simple as that. It took an international entity to do so.
A Justice System That “Sucks”
Regardless of the noise from both sides, one thing is clear: the Philippine justice system remains a dysfunctional entity. It took an international body to push forward the case against Duterte—an indictment of the country’s inability (or unwillingness) to hold the powerful accountable.
Justice, in its true sense, is not about political allegiances. It is not about loyalty to a fallen leader. It is about the people—the countless Filipinos whose lives were shattered by state-sanctioned violence. The arrest of Duterte is not the “death of sovereignty,” as his allies proclaim. It is a long-overdue reckoning. The real question is: Will the country finally embrace accountability, or will justice remain an elusive concept, manipulated by those who wield power?
The answer remains bleak. And yet, the wheels of justice, slow and imperfect as they may be, have begun to turn. Whether they crush Duterte or falter once more under the weight of political influence—that remains to be seen. But if history is any indication, the powerful always find a way to escape, while the powerless are left to rot.
God save the Philippines, indeed. Because at this rate, no one else will.
The Unfolding Chaos
It is not surprising that with these situations, hell may break loose. Remember: not all supporters of his are willing to be sober. Will they just pray? Contented in "parliaments of social media"? Will they just chant their idol's name, calling for justice as they march to EDSA and other major streets? It is not surprising that they'll clamor for a coup, as there are soldiers, policemen, and civilian volunteers who are supportive of the past administration and its bloodied actions. Who cares about rule of law anyway when their political will prevails over those pieces of paper, the same way Duterte downplayed his own country's victory over China in the West Philippine Sea dispute?
And that is the terrifying part: justice may not be the only thing that is ignored. With frustrations mounting and Duterte’s loyalists fueling the flames of dissent, one has to wonder—how far will they go? Will people witness history repeating itself? Will it be another display of mob rule masquerading as political will? Will the country's stability crumble under the weight of fanaticism and political violence?
Wait and see, as one may say, for within these situations, expect all hell to break loose. It did happen in 2001 if one may recall the anger after Estrada's ouster. It did also happen in Washington, DC, in 2021 out of their fanatical support for Trump, and from these examples, it may happen again. And if it does, the cost will not be shouldered by the powerful, but by the ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire of political chaos and blind loyalty.