Duterte allies question ex-appointees' silence over ICC arrest

Local

SUPPORTERS of former President Rodrigo Duterte criticized his former appointees for remaining silent amid his legal troubles, particularly his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a press conference on Wednesday, March 26, Duterte’s Cebu-based supporters accused these individuals of failing to stand by the former leader despite benefiting from his administration.

Moises Deiparine, founder of the Duterte Riders Team, called out Duterte’s former appointees for their lack of visible support.

“Ang mga appointee ni Duterte, dapat mutabang unta sila. Walay tingog, kita nuon nga ordinaryo ra. Relax ra ato, pero ipaabot nato nila nga kamo, kamoy nabulahan during 2016 until nahuman, unya karon wala nagpakita. Kami ra igo nitabang, kami’y gapakita,” Deiparine said.

Edward Mendez, former provincial president of PDP-Laban in Cebu, also warned against politicians using Duterte’s influence for their own interests as the elections approach.

He noted that the movement backing Duterte was built by ordinary citizens, not by politicians.

“Ang challenge man gud, daghan unta musupporta sa kausa niya [PRRD], pero ang usa na gane ka politiko motung-tong na sa entablado unya mangampanya na sa iyang political interest, malubog man gud ang kausa. Mao na gusto nato ipaabot—pwede mo mo-join sa mga kalihokan pero being as a Filipino citizen, not as a politician,” Mendez said.

The press conference came amid discussions in the Senate regarding Duterte’s arrest and detention in The Hague.

During a March 20 Senate hearing, Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for not intervening in her father’s transfer to ICC custody.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. reiterated that the AFP’s role was to support civilian authorities and that legal protocols were followed.

“It’s not that the AFP did not do something. The AFP was deputized, and supporting the PNP [and] the AFP cannot do anything else but to support the civilian authorities,” Teodoro said.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, another former Duterte appointee, denied any involvement in Duterte’s arrest and maintained that his loyalty was to the country and the Constitution.

“I’ve worked closely with former President Duterte for so many years… but my loyalty is always to the country, to the Constitution, and not to any person,” Año said.

As Duterte remains in ICC custody, supporters have launched efforts to bring him back to the Philippines.

Former Senator Gringo Honasan initiated a signature campaign, urging local and international supporters to petition the ICC for Duterte’s return.

Honasan, who served as Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology during the Duterte administration, emphasized that the initiative was not politically motivated but a “pro-Filipino” movement.

“This is not an anti-PBBM initiative. This is also not a pro-FPRRD initiative. This is a pro-Filipino initiative,” Honasan said.

Malacañang distanced itself from the campaign, with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stating that while Honasan has the right to file a petition, he should first coordinate with Duterte’s legal team.

“Karapatan naman po niya kung anong nais niyang gawin, para ipagtanggol ang dating Pangulong Duterte, pero mas mainam po siguro makipag-usap muna siya sa legal team ni dating Pangulong Duterte, baka hindi naman po siya pansinin sa ICC,” Castro said.

Duterte was arrested on March 11 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and later transferred to The Hague.

His pretrial hearing was held on March 14, with confirmation of charges set for September 23.

The ICC’s investigation focuses on Duterte’s war on drugs, which resulted in at least 6,000 deaths according to government data.(TGP)