MANILA (UCAN): Claims by former Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, that he is a changed, “holy man” need to be demonstrated by his willingness to face murder charges, say Church officials and Catholics.
“I am a very holy man. I’m a whole human being now,” ABS-CBN News reported Duterte as saying on January 7.
Duterte, faces an international investigation for leading a drug war that killed thousands, said he is a changed person and attends Mass three times on Sundays.
He claimed that after retiring from politics, he focused on religious and humanitarian work, adding that he is now “a changed man” from perceived agnostic or atheist to a pious person.
Filipino Catholics have been skeptical of Duterte’s reported religiosity and philanthropy. Some alleged the reported change aims to deflect public attention from a possible probe by the International Criminal Court [ICC].
“Perhaps reality has sunk in as sooner or later he will be facing charges by the ICC for the murders of thousands of drug suspects,” Paul Legonzon, a Catholic and rights activist from the Archdiocese of Cotabato, Mindanao, said.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, chairperson of the Catholic bishops’ Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, said no one can judge the former president’s true intentions. “Who are we to judge? But a repentant person must show remorse, there should be external acts,” Bishop Bagaforo said.
Perhaps reality has sunk in as sooner or later he will be facing charges by the ICC for the murders of thousands of drug suspects
Paul Legonzon
“There could be no peace without justice. Peace is the product of justice, as St. Thomas Aquinas, once said,” the bishop added, pointing out that if Duterte was looking for peace, his quest for it should come with justice.
The Office of the Philippine vice president, Sara Duterte, his daughter, attested to the change in the former president. He reportedly donated 10 million pesos [US$181,818] to support the victims of an earthquake that hit General Santos City in Soccsksargen province, Mindanao, in November.
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“His donation will go a long way to building and repairing homes of earthquake victims,” Jessel Garilba, the vice president’s executive secretary, said.
Garilba said Duterte also donated “undisclosed” amounts after retiring from public office and has supported several other projects.
Local and global rights groups have accused the former president of crimes against humanity for overseeing extrajudicial killings of an estimated 20,000 suspected drug dealers and users during his time as president [2016 to 2022] and earlier, as the mayor of Davao City.
Duterte has attempted to dodge international investigation by arguing that the Philippines withdrew its membership from the Hague-based ICC in March 2019 so the court could not exercise jurisdiction in the country.
However, ICC investigators said that since the crimes were committed when the country was still a member, the court has jurisdiction and Duterte could face prosecution.
Legonzon said Duterte’s “true” intentions can be judged if he surrenders to the ICC and face his charges.
Human rights advocate Father Flavie Villanueva said Duterte can no longer escape trial despite his reported good activities now.
“Even if he participates in 100 masses a day, if he does not face the charges, there can be no justice [for] all those drug suspects he allegedly killed as mayor and president of this country,” Father Villanueva said.
Sheila Rivera, the wife of a slain drug suspect in San Mateo, a village near Manila, refused to accept Duterte’s reported change.
“My husband was killed like an animal. No number of Masses can erase that fact. If, indeed, he is repentant, he should surrender to the proper authorities and clear his name in court,” she said.
