A Davaoeño’s Perspective on the ICC Case Against Duterte
The four-day confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially concluded, and a 60-day silence now hangs over the Philippines. As the Pre-Trial Chamber deliberates, the nation, and specifically the people of Davao, are left to process a reality that feels both inevitable and profoundly unfair.
The Davao We Knew
To those watching from afar, the “Iron Fist” is a headline. To those of us who grew up in Davao City, it was our survival. I remember my elementary days, not for the games we played, but for the sound of gunfire outside our school. I remember having to duck to the floor, waiting for the chaos in the streets to end.
Davao would not be the disciplined, thriving city it is today without that firm leadership. We didn’t “feel” a death squad; we felt a sense of order that finally allowed us to walk our streets.
The Forgotten Victims
While the ICC focuses on the “War on Drugs,” many Filipinos feel the court is ignoring the victims that started it all: the children raped by addicts, the elderly robbed, and the families destroyed by the narcotics trade.
It feels like a bitter irony. The former President is accused of denying due process, yet he was brought to The Hague in a manner many describe as a “forced rendition,” bypassing a working Philippine justice system. It feels less like a search for truth and more like a politically supported campaign to remove a leader who made a strong stand for the less fortunate.
Facing an Uncertain Future
Though it hurts to say, the political weight behind this case makes it likely that the charges will be confirmed. We must prepare for the possibility that our former President, now 80 years old, may spend his remaining days in a foreign detention center.
To my fellow supporters: it is a difficult pill to swallow. But as we wait for the 60-day window to close, we must remember the legacy of safety he fought for, even if the world chooses to see it differently.
What is your take on the ICC’s recent hearings? Do you believe the international court is overlooking the local context of the Philippines? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
“Everything I did, I did for my country.” — Rodrigo Duterte
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Karen Kheaye 
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