This news slipped the headlines for most people. Finally, one of the worst (arguably people will say is not THE WORST) presidents the Philippines has had was arrested by ICC. He lead an extra-judicial war on drugs.
If you don’t understand how big a deal it is that ICC arrested Duterte, let me help you understand: BongBong (Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, son of ex-President Ferdinand Marcos) allowed ICC to take him into custody. The Macros family is historically the most hated family in all Philippines.
For extra context as to why, during his presidency, he advocated for the extrajudicial killing of anyone involved with drugs. This led to the mass murder of 10-15k people by police and other citizens, generally based on no evidence. If you wanted to murder someone, all you had to do was say they were a drug dealer and you could kill them with no consequences.
Anyone wondering what a “good” president in Philippines looks like, I was made (as a U.S. born Pinoy) to understand this: celebrities go into government because they are celebrities. In my family we used to joke that at the height of Justin Bieber’s popularity, he would get elected if he was Filipino. Just wanted to contrast things.
No joke, Manny Pacquiao was a senator at one time.
Here’s a video discussing what’s going on, but I can’t find the viral video they mention in the article. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otp2mHXkT7w
I’ve been overwhelmed with all the US news. This is unexpected but welcome news
Ex-president Ferdinand Marcos?
Y’know, I think we have a better word for that
Which is?
EDIT: The current government at the time of his death didn’t even want him transported back to the country. He had been in Hawaii for medical treatment. Eventually he got put in a mausoleum. In 2016 when he finally did get a burial, that sparked protest. If you think something other than ex-president can be used as a more appropriate label, I would like to know.
Ex-dictator
Calling Ferdinand Marcos “ex-president” is like referring to United Fruit a “former fruit company”. It isn’t technically wrong but it buries the lede a bit.
?
Dictator
