With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested. When I saw the news, I wasn’t shocked—I knew it was coming. What did surprise me, though, was how divided people still are about him. Some say his presidency was when they felt the safest. Me? It was the most frustrating time to be a Filipino.

I remember how people cheered when he promised to fix the country. But looking back, what did we really get? Unfulfilled promises. Indecisiveness during the pandemic. Late-night rambling speeches that felt more like a comedy show than a leader addressing a nation. Personal vendettas against the media. And his willingness to sell out our sovereignty to China. But above all, his most infamous legacy—the war on drugs.

I get it. Drugs are a real issue, and yes, his methods made some people feel like the streets were “safer.” But at what cost? Thousands of lives were lost. No trials, no second chances—just bullets and fear. And the worst part? The big drug lords barely got touched, while the poor were the ones who suffered the most. Justice wasn’t served—it was silenced.

So no, I don’t feel sorry for him. I don’t feel bad that he’s finally being held accountable. If anything, it’s necessary. Not just for justice, but as a warning to future leaders. Power isn’t a free pass to act like a god. Leadership comes with responsibility, and if you abuse it, there will be consequences.

Duterte may have ruled like he was untouchable, but the truth is, no one is above the law.