Former President Duterte Faces Trial in The Hague.

Hello dear Hive friends,

today, I would like to write about a controversial political topic that is very close to my heart. I know that opinions on this matter vary greatly, and I respect it if someone sees this issue differently than I do! But in this moment it is important to me to present my personal perspective.

As many of you probably know, former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has been arrested and is now facing charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Personally, this affects me deeply and makes me very sad. You should know that I grew up in Davao. In the city itself, but especially in its immediate surroundings, it was often very unsafe before Duterte's twenty-year term as governor. It was extremely dangerous to be outside after dark. Drug addiction was a huge problem. Addicts used brutal violence to wipe out entire families just to get money for more drugs. Nowhere did you feel truly safe!

It was only when Rodrigo Duterte took office that the situation improved, and Davao became one of the safest and cleanest cities in the Philippines due to his fight against drug-related crime.

It is really tragic that innocent people were also killed in the anti-drug campaign! Every single one is one too many! But still, I cannot help but thank Duterte for freeing my hometown from what once seemed like an unsolvable problem and making life safer for the big majority of people!

Like every human being, Duterte made mistakes, but what I admire about him is that he always tried to do his best for his country and for us Filipinos.
Unlike other, often corrupt politicians, he lived in a modest way!
He also consistently advocated for overseas Filipino workers like me. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he enabled stranded workers to return to the Philippines at the government's expense.

Despite all the criticism, "Tatay Digong" is and remains one of the few Philippine politicians I trust to always want the best for their country.
Yes, in my eyes, he is a wrongly accused hero. I hope and pray that he will be released as soon as possible and can return to his homeland as a free man!