Duterte is not the Philippines!

How dare Duterte reject the Rome Statutes and get the Philippines out of the International Criminal Court! He is not the Philippines! Can treaties and ties of the country just be severed at the whim of one man – even if he be the president – especially one whose interest is not of the country but only to save his own skin?

It is always the alibi of despotic leaders that when they are investigated they claim that there is no jurisdiction, or there is abuse of power, or that it is just a political move. There are many reports of blatant abuse of human rights in the country. Let these be investigated. If the present administration has a clean record, as it claims it has, then it should not be afraid of investigations.  By withdrawing the country so suddenly from international commitments because it is falling under investigation is a very cowardly act.

This seems to be the reactions of Duterte to allegations against him and his cohorts. But in the case of the poor, mere allegations are already reasons to kill.  When accusations are pointed at him, first he brings out a barrage of dirty language and random counter accusations, many of which have no basis at all. He just rumbles them out. Then he hits back at his opponents. Accusing them of fabricated cases and using the agencies and resources of the state to put them to jail, to take them out of office, or simply to shame them in public. When the accused are his relatives or friends, he lets the cases sleep and be forgotten. What happened to the 6.4 B drug scam? So much drugs were smuggled and up to now nobody is held accountable. For a few grams of shabu the poor are killed--and not just apprehended and investigated--but for such a big haul, nobody is held accountable! Why? Because those involved are close to him! Now big names of drug lords, even self-confessed ones, are set free. Not enough evidence against them! This is so incongruent! But we must remind ourselves. Congruence and logic are not to be expected from raving people--from ravingly mad people.

So now, just because he will be investigated by the international court, he severs our ties with the international body? He had already used foul language against the international body and its  rapporteurs and investigators. But nobody is threatened by his dirty words in the international community. So now he accuses them of being unfair and of politicking. Fortunately according to international rules, the investigation will go on. And we say he should be investigated. Nobody should stand unaccountable. Nobody has impunity. The investigation may take years. But let it start--and now! Duterte and his cohorts should know that they cannot forever dodge  justice and the truth. In the long run, justice and truth will prevail.

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