Duterte’s “Plight” Isn’t a Soap Opera: Stop the Copium!
Some Duterte supporters, especially the diehard ones, are still clinging to the fantasy that Rodrigo Duterte will be released and returned to the Philippines. They chant “Bring him home” like it’s a rock concert, waving banners and posting hashtags as if this were some feel-good finale rather than a man facing serious crimes against humanity.
It’s hard not to see the pattern: every medical report, every legal argument, every procedural delay inside the International Criminal Court (ICC) is instantly reframed by loyalists as proof that Duterte is being “persecuted,” that his “plight” deserves sympathy, or that his “legacy” somehow shields him from accountability. In short, they are mainlining copium.
Take the claim that Duterte is unfit for trial due to cognitive deficiencies: "Duterte suffers from significant cognitive deficiencies that affect his memory, his daily executive functioning, his visuoconstructive abilities, and his orientation to place and time while, simultaneously, limiting his capacity for complex reasoning." Said Duterte's legal team.
"[He] is currently unable to meaningfully participate in the legal proceedings against him. Specifically, he lacks the capacity to remember, assimilate and apply information to be able to give his lawyers effective instructions. He will not be able to fluently recall information from the period relevant to the case such as to be able to testify. To conclude, [he] will not be able to meaningfully engage with the legal process and is unfit to stand trial." The statement added.
Let’s be clear: this is not the result of a professional psychiatric evaluation. This is the opinion of his lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, not a licensed mental health expert. Meanwhile, when Duterte was arrested, he was alert, asking questions, invoking his rights, and interacting with authorities. Evidence against him is solid, detailed, and unimpeachable. No copium here can rewrite that reality.
Even Atty. Kristina Conti, ICC Assistant to the Counsel, noted plainly: “Yesterday, I watched Kitty [Duterte], and she said he is fine and has no health issues.”
So much for the “he’s too sick to stand trial” narrative. What supporters are treating as a compassionate concern is, in reality, a strategic dodge—a way to stall justice while preserving the fantasy that Duterte’s flaws somehow justify his impunity.
Let people remember what the country, the Philippines is dealing with: a man accused of mass murder, who openly boasted about being willing to kill three million Filipinos. This is not a matter of political opinion or fan loyalty. This is a matter of international law. No ICC member state will welcome the leader of a non-member state under these circumstances.
Duterte will be confined at Scheveningen Prison in the Netherlands for the foreseeable future—likely at least ten years—and, if convicted, faces life imprisonment without parole. The ICC was established to ensure that justice transcends nationalistic loyalty, celebrity cults, or political partisanship. Interim release for individuals accused of crimes against humanity is extremely rare and would require a willing, capable state to enforce strict conditions—a scenario that does not apply to Duterte.
And yet, his supporters treat this as a tragic story, a soap opera where their hero is being wronged. Every report of a supposed medical issue, every delay in the ICC proceedings, every minor procedural hiccup is instantly seized upon as “proof” that Duterte is being persecuted. They frame his condition as a noble “plight,” and even his “legacy” becomes an excuse to ignore accountability. This is copium at its finest—an emotional anesthetic that allows them to avoid confronting inconvenient truths.
It’s not surprising that some supporters also joyride through current issues, presenting themselves as staunchly “against Marcos” or as defenders of national morality, when in fact the logic is often closer to: “Duterte was right, even when he did wrong.” Recent scandals highlight this perfectly. Many of the legislators implicated happen to be Duterte supporters, raising uncomfortable questions about whether the so-called “legacy” they defend is itself tainted. Indeed, contractors who profited from programs like “Build, Build, Build” may have benefited from the very corruption and mismanagement that these supporters conveniently ignore.
In other words, the idolization of Duterte is less about principle and more about emotional investment. Every scandal, every misstep by those associated with him, is either rationalized or dismissed, reinforcing a fantasy world where their leader remains infallible. Meanwhile, reality—the deaths, the abuses, the human rights violations—remains inconveniently persistent. The copium they inhale is not just about his health or his trial; it is about preserving a comforting illusion in which moral and legal accountability can be ignored, delayed, or deflected.
Duterte’s so-called “plight” and “legacy” are not shields. They are excuses, carefully curated narratives designed to let his supporters feel righteous while the very consequences of his actions continue to unfold, unchallenged. It is a dangerous kind of loyalty—one that confuses emotional devotion for justice, and partisan cheerleading for moral clarity.
Here’s the reality: Duterte betrayed the Philippine Constitution. He violated international human rights covenants. He oversaw policies and committed actions that the international community, humanity, and every right-thinking Filipino condemns. His “legacy” is not heroic. His “plight” is not tragic. It is accountability catching up with him.
It is time for Duterte supporters to wake up. Justice does not care about fan loyalty. It does not bend for chants, banners, or hashtags. It does not wait for the healing of wounded pride. The ICC process is deliberate, slow, and impartial—for a reason. And in the end, justice will be served.
Stop treating this man’s crimes like a drama series. Stop turning his legal jeopardy into a narrative of victimhood. Stop inhaling copium. Rodrigo Duterte’s time under scrutiny has come, and no amount of fan worship can alter the course of history.