In his time, the “monster” sold fear and found a robust market. According to his prime ally and enabler in the war-on-drugs, there were more than one million who surrendered and more than 300,000 who were put in jail at the height of that monstrous fear.
There were also thousands of victims of the so-called extrajudicial killing (EJK) , from as low as 6,000 to as high as 20,000 ,who lost their lives. It wasn’t a simple case of mass murder; it was no less than a crime against humanity.
He was the perfect exponent of Machiavellism, in which means justifies the ends, where the love of country and people justify upending or ending the lives of millions of victims, He was a perfect exemplar of the Peter Principle that some people rise to the level of Incompetence, from mayor to president. That’s why shit (translation: killing of the innocents and harmless —nanlaban– happened)and what’s the fuzz?
There was fear then ; it still lurks somewhere today. One of the chairmen of the Quadcome hearing at the House of Representatives said. In fact, he confronted a ranking police officer whom he accused, in his face, living in fear, six years after the former president had left office.
The chairman is glad that people are no longer as fearful today. Witnesses now abound and come forward with a fragile but new-found courage to expose a national crime or shame. Except that some people, including some policemen and some politician, are still afraid. At the Senate hearing, Machiavelli was proven right: it is better to be feared than respected.
The former president, who had the Senate on the palm of his hand—except for one brave Senator—has yet to attend the Quadcom hearing despite his repeated threats to educate its members and give some a big kick in the butt. He may have his comeuppance, though.
If he keeps his word or make good his threat, his appearance in the standing-room -only hearing should be one of the best—or worst—-in his political performances, albeit, late. It may outshine the Senate gig at his own risk.
Life is a collection of events, according to an Italian writer, and the last shapes the whole or defines it. Whether it’s a House hearing or a Senate encore, the audience demands a second serving or show from the former strong man. The nation, and the world, wants another award-winning performance or confession.
The House, of course, will be a different stage. The four chairmen of the Quadcom are ready to cite any resource person, regardless of political legend, ego or conceit , of contempt. It’s a real threat for any unruly conduct, including lying – a cardinal sin, before the committee
But the bigger event that awaits the former president is the potential ICC trial on the crime against humanity during the war on drug—a clear misnomer according to the survivors of EJK, because there were no real enemies in the first place.
At least, one senator and a partymate of the former president agrees that the Philippines should return to the fold of tbe Rome Statute. It’s another way of saying let the ICC have the jurisdiction again over us so it can proceed with no hindrance to the long delayed probe on the drug war crime.
The former president withdrew from the ICC following the cases filed by EJK victims. The current president agrees with the withdraw on the pretext of sovereignty. Two things: 1) every lawyer worth his salt understands that sovereignty is partly conceded in any treaty 2)people now know the real reason behind the sovereignty excuse.
No doubt, the Lower House may have a strong motive to have the ICC jurisdiction reinstated anew. The unbridled exposes on the crimes committed in the war on drugs are providing more impetus in that direction. The ongoing probe may also be looking beyond 2025 in terms of political consideration. Power, after all, is said to be the ultimate aphrodisiac, according the late American foreign secretary Henry Kissinger.
In the minds of many Filipinos, real justice can only be attained for EJK victims if the perpetrators will be probed and tried by the ICC. Any attempt to achieve that via the domestic judicial system is seen as a shot at the moon, given who are involved and who are more vulnerable in the pursuit of justice.
For now, the present dispensation may stick to its earlier pledge to keep the ICC hands off the drug war cases. But a change of a heart is also possible. The critical mass has not yet achieved that level where politics will sway the option in the opposite direction. After all, not every thing is cast in stones in politics. It’s always permanent interest versus permanent friends at stake in the long run.
“Democracy”, the American writer E.B. White wrote, “ is the recurring suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.”. Recent surveys indicate a strong public opinion gaining traction and points to where the political winds blow. Besides, a leader is supposed to be a dealer in a hope.
