On the Fallen Gutter Strongman and the Hollow Echoes of His Loyalists
The recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte has not sparked the nationwide uproar his allies so desperately hoped for. Instead, the so-called protests amount to little more than small, scattered whinings, confined mostly to social media rather than the streets. EDSA, a historical site of genuine people power, remains all but normal. Where are the deafening cries of the masses? Other than the predictable noise from Duterte's loyal online army, the overwhelming silence from the broader public suggests that this is yet another scripted performance, likely orchestrated by the same "paid hack" machinery that has long fueled pro-Duterte propaganda.
Duterte, a man who once wielded the law as a weapon, now clings to it for salvation, crying out for due process in an attempt to escape accountability. His supporters, led by the likes of former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, attempt to frame his arrest as an injustice, yet their arguments reek of hypocrisy. Where was their concern for rule of law when Duterte's brutal drug war claimed thousands of lives without trial? Where was their outrage when innocent people were detained or executed without legal recourse? Now, faced with the same system they once manipulated, they resort to baseless accusations and feigned victimhood.
It is telling that despite the bombastic calls for action, the public response remains tepid. Lorraine Badoy, ever the firebrand, paints President Marcos Jr. as a dictator, but few are listening. Roque urges people to flood EDSA in protest, yet the historic avenue remains unbothered. Senator Bong Go appeals for prayers, as if divine intervention might absolve Duterte of his crimes. But for all their noise, the simple truth is evident: the people are not moved. The country has seen through the bluster, and the supposed groundswell of support is nowhere to be found outside the usual echo chambers of social media and partisan networks.
A concerned citizen observing these events cannot help but notice the stubbornness of Duterte and his allies. They cry for rule of law when it suits them; they invoke patriotism when they find themselves cornered. Yet none of these tactics will stop the truth from emerging. The concerned have seen facts laid bare, and no amount of political theater can rewrite history. Duterte is not a victim. He is merely a fallen strongman, desperately grasping at legal straws to avoid the fate he so willingly imposed on others.
This arrest is not a fight for democracy, nor is it a suppression of freedom. It is justice catching up. And as the public remains largely indifferent to the wails of his loyalists, it is clear that the nation is ready to move forward—leaving Duterte and his desperate defenders behind.