I sat down twice with the president of the Philippines; it was one of the most challenging situations I've had as a journalist and I only now tell the story PART 2
I admire your willingness to walk away from cash on the table, especially after what you went through to get this story (which - as always -was fascinating & insightful). Cuídese.
Fantastic piece and Duterte is truly the Punisher and the Pit Bull of politics. Duterte's mindset and psychology is so reminiscent of some of the most tenacious and slugging champions of boxing who took no prisoners in the ring and were going to destroy them every way possible. A Jake LaMotta in savagery and a Lupe Pintor in strength and tenacity.
Certainly Duterte had his training directed by his mother who was a strong community activist and played a huge part in the deposing of Ferdinand Marcos. His strength was built up by his actions as mayor of Davao City, for twenty two years, by destroying the lawlessness of Davao City and making it one of the safest cities in Southwest Asia. Even after being arrested by ICC, he was still elected mayor of Davao City.
The ICC has been so politically corrupt and biased since the Yugoslavian Civil War and the war in Kosovo. With the conflict between Marcos Jr and Duterte's daughter, the ICC saw it's chance to try and destroy Duterte with the help of Marcos Jr. despite his claims of non-involvement. The hidden aspect behind the ICC charges is the operation against ISIS in Marawi. Duterte's actions in Marawi were condemned especially by the organizations and individuals that are closely aligned with the ICC. Atty. Arnedo S. Valera is the executive director of the Global Migrant Heritage Foundation and managing attorney at Valera & Associates, a US immigration and anti-discrimination law firm for over 32 years and has condemned the charges against Duterte as legally flawed. (https://usa.inquirer.net/168300/why-the-icc-case-against-duterte-is-legally-flawed). Marawi was Duterte's Fallujah but lacking the US indecisiveness and confusing rules of engagement in Fallujah. Duterte's ruthlessness and the determination to destroy ISIS really repulsed and frightened many leaders around the world.
Duterte, today, would still be leader of the Philippines if he had taken over the legislative and judicial branches of the Philippines like Bukele did in El Salvador. It took Duterte in Davao City years to achieve his objectives of destroying the drug and criminal activity in the city. Democracy reaches the edge of the cliff when confronted with the onslaught of crime, unrelenting violence against the community and the corruption of so-called Democratic leaders.
Thanks there Tom and an interesting take. Like I say in the piece, I had (and still have) many mixed feelings about many parts of this whole story but it feels a relief to finally put it all into words and get it out. I'll look up those leads you have there - you have a lot of inside insight into these angles! Best there.
Thanks much for the comment and fascinating to hear about his popularity in Japan. There is certainly a different mentality in some Asian countries about law enforcement - although I think there is now a growing look to tougher approaches in the West. All best there my friend.
I wish you would have asked Duterte about his fentanyl patch habit, supposedly first picked up as the result of an injury resulting in a chronic pain condition. Duterte has admitted to it in speeches, and there are some amazing quotes about it, typical of his unfiltered speaking style. He also claimed that he kicked the habit, and I'd like to know more about that. The question I've never heard anyone ask is whether he shook his fentanyl habit by substituting another prescription opioid as a daily maintenance regime, which is a frequent remedy for the problem. I haven't heard anything about whether his pain issue has gone away, either.
were you aware of his history of opioid use at the time of the interviews? I don’t recall when it was first reported in the press. A touchy subject to bring up, perhaps.
It might have been out there, but I don't think I had really take it in amid a lot of info I was pursuing on death squads and police actions and shabu dealing and the rest. In 2016/17 as well fentanyl was not as in the center of discussion as it became a couple of years later.
What a great piece of journalism and with such a long history. Much respect for holding off on releasing the story and for not taking the money and allowing some editor to change the focus on the piece, I think that shows strength of integrity, especially for an independent journalist trying to make a living.
In the end, with the longer time span between the initial trip to the Philippines to now, it paints a more complete picture of Duterte and his war on drugs and also shows clearly your struggle with people’s perception of the morality of interviewing such a controversial figure.
While I definitely don’t condone the extra judicial murder of countless people, as in the Philippines, extreme problems require extreme solutions, in El Salvador, Niyib Bukele’s solution is also extreme , and is unpopular among many, particularly because of the extra judicial nature of the arrests and detentions, but in both cases the results are seen as positive by a majority of the population who were previously suffering the violence and/or other problems associated with drugs and drug addiction and its effects on society, and in turn it makes these controversial policies and leaders popular.
They certainly get results, but at a high cost, especially in the case of Duterte in the Philippines.
The war on drugs in some places around the world is a literal war as opposed to a legal issue.
It shows that when money (and power) is more important than morals, there is a big problem.
Unfortunately, this is not just true of the narco trade.
Thanks much there Andy and great reflections - it's nice to see people share the thoughts and struggles I have bouncing in my mind. Yeah, maybe I should have got this out earlier when he was in power it was a hotter topic but it's a release to get it out there in the end. All best there my friend.
A great pairing with your Part 1. As always there is another side, or maybe “the rest of the story”. I’m always a little suspicious of the ICC, it seems political to me. Very enjoyable and I feel fortunate to e able to read your work.
Yeah, the flip side and conclusion, up to now! Yeah, the ICC is an odd one, the idea of a court above nations judging leaders. It seems very arbitary who has been judged and the man leaders who have also done bad things who haven't...
Ar the time, one could never have known he would have ended up in The Hague! Should be an interesting trial, if it happens. His fitness to plead still not confirmed (lots of problems agreeing on suitable experts). They also want Ronald dela Rosa now, too.
Yeah, it will be an interesting one to follow. Lets if they issue more arrest warrants and also if they new government continues to act on them. The ICC don't have a great world standing right now and they are trying to put themselves more on the map with this trial..
I admire your willingness to walk away from cash on the table, especially after what you went through to get this story (which - as always -was fascinating & insightful). Cuídese.
Yeah, looking back now I am not sure it was the right move and I can be too headstrong! But that is the way it went down. Un abrazo amigo.
Fantastic piece and Duterte is truly the Punisher and the Pit Bull of politics. Duterte's mindset and psychology is so reminiscent of some of the most tenacious and slugging champions of boxing who took no prisoners in the ring and were going to destroy them every way possible. A Jake LaMotta in savagery and a Lupe Pintor in strength and tenacity.
Certainly Duterte had his training directed by his mother who was a strong community activist and played a huge part in the deposing of Ferdinand Marcos. His strength was built up by his actions as mayor of Davao City, for twenty two years, by destroying the lawlessness of Davao City and making it one of the safest cities in Southwest Asia. Even after being arrested by ICC, he was still elected mayor of Davao City.
The ICC has been so politically corrupt and biased since the Yugoslavian Civil War and the war in Kosovo. With the conflict between Marcos Jr and Duterte's daughter, the ICC saw it's chance to try and destroy Duterte with the help of Marcos Jr. despite his claims of non-involvement. The hidden aspect behind the ICC charges is the operation against ISIS in Marawi. Duterte's actions in Marawi were condemned especially by the organizations and individuals that are closely aligned with the ICC. Atty. Arnedo S. Valera is the executive director of the Global Migrant Heritage Foundation and managing attorney at Valera & Associates, a US immigration and anti-discrimination law firm for over 32 years and has condemned the charges against Duterte as legally flawed. (https://usa.inquirer.net/168300/why-the-icc-case-against-duterte-is-legally-flawed). Marawi was Duterte's Fallujah but lacking the US indecisiveness and confusing rules of engagement in Fallujah. Duterte's ruthlessness and the determination to destroy ISIS really repulsed and frightened many leaders around the world.
Duterte, today, would still be leader of the Philippines if he had taken over the legislative and judicial branches of the Philippines like Bukele did in El Salvador. It took Duterte in Davao City years to achieve his objectives of destroying the drug and criminal activity in the city. Democracy reaches the edge of the cliff when confronted with the onslaught of crime, unrelenting violence against the community and the corruption of so-called Democratic leaders.
Thanks there Tom and an interesting take. Like I say in the piece, I had (and still have) many mixed feelings about many parts of this whole story but it feels a relief to finally put it all into words and get it out. I'll look up those leads you have there - you have a lot of inside insight into these angles! Best there.
Man that’s some crazy interesting story. Kudos for all the good work, and I also remember that earthquake - I hope you didn’t have it too bad.
Thanks there Diego, and yeah, that earthquake was a biggie!
Hello,
Thank you very much for your wonderful article.
I am truly impressed by your integrity as a journalist.
You are without a doubt one of the greatest journalists of this century.
I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I also featured the president on YouTube, and the video has been viewed about 770,000 times.
Since then, I’ve received many reactions and opinions from viewers. (In Japan, these facts are hardly ever reported.)
Everyone has their own beliefs and sense of justice, and this issue feels extremely complex.
Many Japanese people support the president’s killing, but I cannot celebrate it so easily.
Thanks much for the comment and fascinating to hear about his popularity in Japan. There is certainly a different mentality in some Asian countries about law enforcement - although I think there is now a growing look to tougher approaches in the West. All best there my friend.
I wish you would have asked Duterte about his fentanyl patch habit, supposedly first picked up as the result of an injury resulting in a chronic pain condition. Duterte has admitted to it in speeches, and there are some amazing quotes about it, typical of his unfiltered speaking style. He also claimed that he kicked the habit, and I'd like to know more about that. The question I've never heard anyone ask is whether he shook his fentanyl habit by substituting another prescription opioid as a daily maintenance regime, which is a frequent remedy for the problem. I haven't heard anything about whether his pain issue has gone away, either.
Thanks there DC. Yeah good point. That would have been a good line to follow up and interesting to understand his thinking. Best there!
maybe next time ;-)
were you aware of his history of opioid use at the time of the interviews? I don’t recall when it was first reported in the press. A touchy subject to bring up, perhaps.
It might have been out there, but I don't think I had really take it in amid a lot of info I was pursuing on death squads and police actions and shabu dealing and the rest. In 2016/17 as well fentanyl was not as in the center of discussion as it became a couple of years later.
Brilliant, thanks for sharing.
Well appreciated there friend. What a crazy tragic world we live in!
Ioan mate,
What a great piece of journalism and with such a long history. Much respect for holding off on releasing the story and for not taking the money and allowing some editor to change the focus on the piece, I think that shows strength of integrity, especially for an independent journalist trying to make a living.
In the end, with the longer time span between the initial trip to the Philippines to now, it paints a more complete picture of Duterte and his war on drugs and also shows clearly your struggle with people’s perception of the morality of interviewing such a controversial figure.
While I definitely don’t condone the extra judicial murder of countless people, as in the Philippines, extreme problems require extreme solutions, in El Salvador, Niyib Bukele’s solution is also extreme , and is unpopular among many, particularly because of the extra judicial nature of the arrests and detentions, but in both cases the results are seen as positive by a majority of the population who were previously suffering the violence and/or other problems associated with drugs and drug addiction and its effects on society, and in turn it makes these controversial policies and leaders popular.
They certainly get results, but at a high cost, especially in the case of Duterte in the Philippines.
The war on drugs in some places around the world is a literal war as opposed to a legal issue.
It shows that when money (and power) is more important than morals, there is a big problem.
Unfortunately, this is not just true of the narco trade.
Thanks much there Andy and great reflections - it's nice to see people share the thoughts and struggles I have bouncing in my mind. Yeah, maybe I should have got this out earlier when he was in power it was a hotter topic but it's a release to get it out there in the end. All best there my friend.
while you look nothing like duterte, he could well have had a starring role in "act of killing" - just my opinion
Ha ha. I still need to watch that movie - I have heard it's crazy.
Great article. Bukele’s approach is different and works for El Salvador. Leftists don't like any crackdown on crimes in any way.
A great pairing with your Part 1. As always there is another side, or maybe “the rest of the story”. I’m always a little suspicious of the ICC, it seems political to me. Very enjoyable and I feel fortunate to e able to read your work.
Yeah, the flip side and conclusion, up to now! Yeah, the ICC is an odd one, the idea of a court above nations judging leaders. It seems very arbitary who has been judged and the man leaders who have also done bad things who haven't...
What a fantastic read. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading my friend. I'm glad to finally get the story out there. Un abrazo!
Ar the time, one could never have known he would have ended up in The Hague! Should be an interesting trial, if it happens. His fitness to plead still not confirmed (lots of problems agreeing on suitable experts). They also want Ronald dela Rosa now, too.
Yeah, it will be an interesting one to follow. Lets if they issue more arrest warrants and also if they new government continues to act on them. The ICC don't have a great world standing right now and they are trying to put themselves more on the map with this trial..
Yes, they "need a win", and that is putting it mildly.
Ha ha. I can definitely do some coverage of the trial now. And still, it's nice that the CrashOut community get the story first!