The Duterte camp, perhaps anticipating a dramatic twist of fate called a Black Swan event, which never materialized, now resorts to desperate measures, fabricating crises like the failed ‘Polvoron video’ scandal and the ill-conceived call for Mindanao secession, both of which disastrously backfired on Dutertes in Davao and their allies elsewhere.
In their latest ploy, Duterte’s cohorts, led by former regime mouthpiece Harry Roque, peddle the absurd notion that Duterte faces imminent arrest, supposedly stemming from the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s probe into his administration’s deadly drug war.
Roque recounts Duterte’s alleged late-night call, claiming he received intelligence about his impending arrest, yet fails to provide concrete evidence or specify any details.
“I was not able to sleep because Tatay Digong called me and he said he received information that he could be arrested any time,” he said.
“Tingnan n’yo kung ano ang reaction ng taumbayan. Galit po sila sa mere possibility na maaresto ang dating presidente… Huwag n’yo pong gawin ‘yan, puputok tayo na parang Pinatubo. That will trigger chaos, ‘pag inaresto n’yo ang dating presidente,” the former Duterte regime spokesperson also warned.
Former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes swiftly debunked Roque’s fear-mongering, asserting that no ICC warrant exists.
Trillanes advises calm, dismissing the alarmist rhetoric as baseless.
“There is no ICC warrant issued that I know of. Chill lang, masyado naman kayong praning. Darating din yan when you least expect it,” Trillanes posted on X, formerly Twitter.
But Duterte’s cronies persist in their fear-mongering tactics, hinting at a looming national security crisis, insinuating that loyalists must rise against the ICC and the Marcos administration.
Roque fuels the paranoia further, insinuating that the disbandment of Task Force Davao, purportedly due to their loyalty to the Dutertes, signals impending chaos.
“They know that the task force is loyal to the Dutertes so there are rumors now that it will be disbanded,” he said.
“So it is confirmed that the Task Force Davao knows that there is an order for them to be disbanded. We don’t know what will happen in the next few days,” Roque added.
Such rumors, however, lack substantiation, serving only to stoke fear and unrest among Duterte’s loyalists.
Roque’s reckless dissemination of unverified rumors serves a dangerous agenda, not only shielding Duterte but also inciting his supporters to civil disobedience and anti-Marcos protests.
It’s a cynical ploy to manipulate their base, painting Duterte as a victim of injustice while fomenting rebellion against the current administration.
Trillanes calls for decisive action, urging authorities to seize the Duterte clan’s arsenal of weapons, fearing they could be used to incite sedition and rebellion.
“Dapat kanselahin na ng PNP ang mga gun licenses at i-confiscate ang 364 na high-powered firearms ni Duterte dahil ito ay nag-incite to sedition/secession na. Malamang na gagamitin pa ang mga baril na yan laban sa gobyerno,” Trillanes posted on X.
Yet, Roque’s outlandish claims are swiftly contradicted by the ICC’s assistant counsel, Kristina Conti, who confirms an ongoing investigation but denies any imminent arrest.
“What I can confirm is that the investigation in the Philippines is ongoing. Whether they came here physically or not that is something for them to confirm or to speak on,” Conti said.
In a disturbing turn, Duterte himself threatens violence, warning of a bloody showdown should the ICC attempt to arrest him.
In an interview, Duterte told the media that any attempt by the ICC to arrest him would result in a bloody gunfight.
“Kung pumunta sila rito, arestuhin nila ako, magkabarilan talaga yan. Uubusin ko yang mga putang-inang yan,” the former president said.
This ironic statement echoes the countless victims of Duterte’s brutal drug war, where authorities justified extrajudicial killings by claiming the victims “fought back” or “nanlaban” in Filipino.
This implies that if Duterte and his men were to fight back, or “manlaban,” they would meet the same fate as many victims of Duterte’s failed drug war, whom authorities claimed “fought back” or “nanlaban” in the past.
If Duterte chooses to resist arrest, it would echo the grim fate of his victims, who perished in the name of his ruthless campaign.
Whether Duterte will indeed resort to violence remains uncertain, but many of his critics anticipate such a scenario, underscoring the grim reality of his authoritarian rule.
The Daily Netizen 