Political rivals trade barbs over drug problems in the Philippines – The Diplomat

In the Philippines, the Duterte and Marcos political dynasties and their supporters are busy throwing mud at each other because they are responsible for the drug plague.

In the Senate, former police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa delivered a speech urging his colleagues to support him and the Dutertes. “I want to ask the members of this august body,” he said. “Where do you stand when it comes to protecting our citizens?”

His speech was in response to news reports about the apparent change of position by the government of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. regarding the ongoing Investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the role of former President Rodrigo Duterte and several police generals in the brutal enforcement of the anti-drug campaign during their terms in office.

Dela Rosa was angry that two senior officials in the Marcos administration had assured that ICC staff would not be prevented from carrying out their work in the country.

Asked about the ICC's plan to send a team to the Philippines, Attorney General Menardo Guevarra said the government was aware of the request. “We cannot stop the ICC prosecutor from his investigation. That is his mandate. He can interview anyone by phone, email, through local organizations or even in person if the person agrees to the interview,” he told reporters.

Justice Minister Jesus Crispin Remulla made a similar claim, even adding that the government could not stop Interpol if it tried to make lawful arrests in the country. “Our job is not to block Interpol in any way, unless a strategy is established to do so, which of course would go against our international obligations,” he said in a media interview.

According to Dela Rosa, the statements of Guevarra and Remulla contradicted earlier statements by President Marcos, who had repeatedly insisted that the Philippines would not cooperate with the ICC investigation for reasons of jurisdiction and sovereignty. Dela Rosa warned that authorities could be guilty of the crime of illegal detention or aggravated illegal detention if they make an arrest based on an ICC request.

If there is a policy shift, it is likely to reflect the growing rift between the Dutertes and Marcoses. The dispute has become even more heated this year after Duterte accused Marcos of being a drug addict. Marcos denied the accusation and said the former president was under the influence of fentanyl. Duterte's son recently introduced a bill in Congress that would require all public officials to undergo drug testing.

Meanwhile, Marcos allies have launched a series of congressional hearings looking into drug proliferation, criminal activities linked to Philippine offshore gambling operators and extrajudicial killings. The lawmakers said the hearings would “assist in the prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators, conspirators and masterminds of the entire criminal network.” They added that the investigation was part of “the path to uncover the truth, seek justice and heal our people.”

One of the witnesses they presented was a former customs official who had implicated Duterte's son, son-in-law and his former economic adviser in a case involving an illegal drug shipment. The son-in-law is the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, who resigned from her post as education secretary in July and has become a critic of the Marcos administration.

Unlike her father, Sara Duterte has not directly accused Marcos of drug use. However, she issued a statement declaring that “leaders should not be motivated by money, cocaine or champagne.” She also supported her brother's bill and accepted the challenge of undergoing a drug test.

While politicians indulge in partisan bickering, victims of the bloody “war on drugs” continue to clamor for justice. The growing rivalry ahead of the 2025 midterm elections should not drown out calls for truth, accountability and justice.