Over the past few years, I have devoted considerable time to watching committee hearings conducted by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, mostly through replays but occasionally live. What has genuinely surprised me is the unwavering persistence displayed by legislative members in fulfilling their duties. Change may be gradual and insufficient, but it is undeniably taking place.
Having observed the political landscape over the last eight years, I am fully aware that we should not expect miracles from politicians. However, until the conditions are ripe for a more significant disruption in our political framework, I will celebrate the small victories whenever they occur. In the past year, the accumulation of these small wins has been notable.
For instance, the odious fake People’s Initiative was effectively challenged and exposed by the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms, halting its progress. While the underlying intent remains alive, the initial approach has been thwarted. Given that the proponents of the People’s Initiative continue to hold power, I anticipate that it will resurface under a different guise.
More significantly, what began as a minor victory has now evolved into something much larger. I’m referring to the situation surrounding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), which was operating with relative impunity just a few months ago. However, following an order from President Marcos Jr. two months ago, the legal framework supporting POGO is being dismantled. This unexpected development is worthy of commendation from the Filipino people, and I believe the President deserves recognition for this decisive action.
The hearings continued, of course, and I am reminded of the title of an old Western movie: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The good aspect was the presidential directive to ban POGO. The bad part is the shocking exposure of how criminality was unleashed wholesale under the guise of a legitimized POGO. The hearings from both the Senate and the House appear to be nearing their natural conclusion; however, the bad has not yet come to light sufficiently. I suspect that new developments might extend the hearings.
The ugly, though, is yet to emerge from the thorny bushes. I believe it will be not only criminal but also political in nature. After all, the president’s decision to ban POGO was political from the start. The government relinquished a substantial income from the legitimate side of POGO, and I suspect that political allies still have opportunities to engage in sideline businesses with POGO operators. In return, the president enjoyed his shining moment during the SONA, receiving praise from citizens and creating further chances to uncover the ugly that cannot be directly attributed to him.
A notable development from the Senate and House hearings is the case of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. This controversial figure, who seemed untouchable for many years, is now in detention following an attempt to evade arrest. Quiboloy’s story represents a social and political drama of its own, rife with many disturbing nuances. Wanted in the USA on charges including complex sex trafficking, fraud, money laundering, sexual abuse, and human trafficking, Quiboloy is also accused of serious crimes here.
I read reports stating that Quiboloy will first face his cases in the Philippines and may be extradited to the United States afterward. I also came across a statement from the Philippine Ambassador to the United States confirming that the US is indeed very determined to have Quiboloy face trial there. The contrast of him being on his majestic perch to potentially ending up in a jail cell while the resolution of his cases unfolds in our country reminds me of the old movie title … the bigger they are, “The Harder They Fall.”
An older and sensitive issue, both national and international in character, is the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Duterte administration’s drug war. The number of deaths is staggering, with even the lowest official Philippine National Police (PNP) count at over 6,000. In contrast, news organizations and human rights groups claim that the number exceeds 20,000 killed. To make matters worse, most of these individuals were small-time pushers and/or drug users, many reportedly killed for fighting back.
In keeping with its mandate, the ICC has been investigating the war on drugs for years and is close to issuing an international warrant for the arrest of former President Duterte and a few others, including former PNP Chief and now Senator Bato de la Rosa. The controversy lies not in the ICC’s belief that it has grounds to investigate and accuse, but rather in Duterte’s decision to withdraw the Philippines from the ICC, likely because he anticipated that the ICC would assert jurisdiction over these matters.
As it stands now, the Philippines has articulated that it would refuse to recognize an arrest warrant by the ICC, but it seems to be wavering. The family feud of erstwhile political partners is getting so bad that it is not impossible for the government to go sideways and, somehow, allow ICC to have jurisdiction over Duterte and company. Diehard Duterte fans will be outraged but it is possible that most Filipinos will sympathize with the victims of the war on drugs and the ICC.
Even before Duterte first ascended to the throne in Malacañang, he had announced his war on drugs. He was openly anti-US and pro-China. Not long after, he openly expressed sympathy to the Marcos family and allowed the body of the former dictator to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. It seemed to me then that he took on very controversial issues simultaneously, and they are coming back at him now..
The world, too, is in a heated state with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in its 3rd year and the Hamas raid will be 2 years old next month. With Europe in turmoil, China keeps bullying the Philippines. We are not in a good place, and I am feeling very grateful for small wins on the domestic front.