MANILA, Philippines — An emotional Senator Imee Marcos expressed her shock upon learning about the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, comparing his situation to the ordeal faced by her father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Marcos Laments Political Retaliation
During a press conference on Tuesday, Marcos voiced her disappointment, arguing that such political incidents only bring further division and hardship to the nation.
“Gumanda ba ang buhay natin dahil sa pamumulitika? Umasenso ba ang ating bansa? Hindi na tayo natuto. So, sa lahat mga nakakahiyang yugto sa ating pulitika, gantihan ng gantihan, awayan ng awayan, yumaman ba? Nabusog ba? Sumaya ba ang taong bayan? Yun na lamang ang tanong ko. Awang awa talaga ako,” she said.
(Did our lives become better because of politics? Did our country improve? It appears like we did not learn anything. In all of the embarrassing phases of our politics where politicians keep on hitting and arguing with each other, did we succeed? Did it make us full? Did it make the people happy? Those are my questions. I pity him.)
Comparison to Past Presidents
Marcos went on to draw comparisons between Duterte’s predicament and the struggles of past leaders, including her father.
“Naawa ako sa tatay ko noong 1986. Naawa din ako sa mga sunod-sunod na pangulo, kay Erap [Joseph Estrada], kay GMA [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]. Gulo lang ang dulot nito. Hindi na tayo natuto. Paulit-ulit na lang tayo,” she stated.
(I pitied my father for what he endured in 1986. I also felt sorry for the succeeding presidents like Erap and GMA. Incidents like this only cause trouble. We did not learn anything.)
She further added:
“Awang-awa nga ako. Kasi matanda na diba? Parang sa tatay ko, anong nangyari? Ganon din, nakakaawa din,” she said.
(I really pity him. Because he’s old, right? Just like my father, what happened to him? It’s the same, I pity them.)
Senate Leaders Call for Unity
Meanwhile, Senate President Jinggoy Estrada emphasized the need for national unity and stability, urging the public to remain calm.
“We must refrain from engaging in any form of violence, spreading misinformation, or taking actions that may only further polarize our country,” Estrada stated.
He also reminded that Duterte, like any citizen, has legal options to pursue:
“Like any Filipino citizen, former Pres. Duterte is entitled to legal recourse, and as a lawyer, he knows the proper steps to take. I trust that his rights will be respected and protected.”
Estrada assured that the Philippine justice system is functioning properly and that due process would be followed.
His brother, Senator JV Ejercito, also voiced his concern over the growing divide among the country’s leaders.
“Ipinagdarasal ko ang Pilipinas. Ako ay nalulungkot sa ating pagkakawatak-watak. Napakahirap na umusad,” he said.
(I am praying for the Philippines. I am saddened by this division. It’s hard to move forward.)
Duterte Served ICC Arrest Warrant Upon Arrival
Duterte returned from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning, where he was met by Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, who served him the International Criminal Court (ICC) notification of an arrest warrant.
The warrant is related to allegations of crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s controversial war on drugs during his presidency.
Death Toll from Drug War
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported 6,252 deaths resulting from anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to May 31, 2022.
However, a 2017 report attributed to the Office of the President suggested that the death toll exceeded 20,000 within the first 17 months of Duterte’s administration.
The case against Duterte is expected to further deepen political divisions in the country, with supporters and critics closely watching how events unfold.
