HORI7ON(호라이즌) ‘COLD’ M/V

Was This A Divine Intervention?

This is Divine Intervention ... plain and simple.  A higher power directly and purposely influenced the storyline in Rodrigo Roa Duterte's saga in Hague Netherlands. 

For some strange reason, the legal head honcho in the ex-president's legal defense was rushed to the hospital, and as of press time, Salvador Medialdea is definitely out and will soon come back to the Philippines.

Harry Roque could not also serve as Digong's legal guru. According to VP Inday his stay in the Netherlands is yet to be established ... and they don't want any complications.

So the final decision was to employ an all-foreign defense team to get Digong out of the woods.

What a clever twist in the plot ... if one looked closely ... the script is being revised and webbed by a Supreme Power - all programmed to use relatable characters aimed to teach a moral and spiritual lesson after the story is told. 

It is likened to parables in the Bible ... they are powerful teaching tools that stimulate us to think, arouse strong feelings, and stir emotions, typically the positive ones ... (for instance the parable of the prodigal son ... the mustard seed ... or The Good Samaritan.)

Imagine a biased man who loathed and despised anything alien or White. And then with the twist of circumstances... he was left alone ... and the only people who could save him from his legal troubles were the very same people he abhors.

No man ... is an island ...no man stands alone. Is this the lesson the heavens want us to learn from Digong's journey? 

The higher power has finally weaved the ending of the story - despite Digong's bias toward anything unfamiliar and foreign (except China perhaps)... Somebody up there is rubbing the situation to his face.  And that's including us ... that we pay more attention and take notice.

All Filipino lawyers were removed from the battlefield (that was the plan) ... and the soldiers he has been rubbing elbows with through the years like Medialdia and Roque with a stroke of His wand suddenly find themselves "inutil" and futile.  Now he has to be contented with whatever help he can get from the people he has long frowned upon.

You see the Supreme Power can't just sit down looking at how the story unfolds.  He wants to be a part of the story himself. He wants to intervene ... and get involved ... to change the story perhaps ... or to leave a lasting lesson everyone should learn from.

Ironies Pa More

 

It is not my habit to rub situations and statements uttered by our protagonists ... until their face turns red. Nor is it my nature to emphasize something negative or embarrassing often in a way that makes someone worse.

It is not my place to continually bring up in perpetuity unpleasant or embarrassing statements, reminding someone they were wrong

But isn't it ironic that the situation was right there staring at our faces, and we said nothing about it? We zip our mouths and eyes shut, hoping the irony will not nag us and will just fade into oblivion ... and finally evaporate in thin air.

That was the dilemma I had from the get-go. The situation is ripe for a dissenting commentary. What could be more liberating than venting and airing out pent-up emotions that were held back and suppressed for a long time? Also, information bottled up inside that was not expressed instead it was stifled ... wanting release.

Here are some of those ironies:

1. In one of those online press conferences, Hariruki was quoted in response to Malacanang's call that he needed to go home and face his charges. He stood firm and made a stand ... that he could not return home, stating that Digong needs him for his defense.

Isn't it ironic that Harry can play on with his legal woes ... and think his being a counsel to the former president will excuse him from extradition or deportation?

2. Harry Roque was also quoted." Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit nila ako ginigipit para mawalan ng legal representation ang president."

Isn't it ironic how Harry thinks highly of himself? Wala na bang ibang abogado who can take his place just in case the unthinkable happens? What happens to the Dream Team they want to assemble? It would be foolish for Digong to depend on his former spokesperson when he also has enough on his plate. Bakit hindi na lang niya sabihin: "I could not go home because Gen Torre will arrest me?"

3. Harry said he is not a fugitive. Roque maintained that he is not a fugitive, saying it only applies to wanted persons based on a court-issued arrest warrant. He said he filed a petition to the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the Quadcom's warrant of arrest due to his failure to show up and provide the necessary documents.

Isn't it ironic that after months of being "INCOGNITO" (pahiram ABS CBN), his being INCOMMUNICADO and his whereabouts untraceable contradicts his words?

4. Di ba mantra ng Duterte regime noon at the time of de Lima at ABS CBN: "Kung walang tinatago ... hindi ka dapat matakot."

Isn't it ironic that the same phrase can turn the tables upside down and can be used now to let Roque and his ilk na "igisa sila sa sarili nilang mantika?" Is this a case of somebody eating his own vomit?

5.  The ever-vocal DDS lauded Harry "as a real warrior" who doesn't abandon his king in battle.

Isn't it ironic that the dedeez hierarchy did not think that Harry could not even defend himself? He was running from the law, remember? How can one defend the president if he cannot defend himself? How can one be counsel to somebody if the Damocles sword of extradition is looming?

6. One kibitzer was commenting on Harry's demeanor during VP Inday's one-on-one talk with supporters. There's that feeling of uneasiness and edginess written all over his face. It is as though he has that nightmarish vision that anytime somebody will grab him from behind just like what they did to Digong.

Isn't it ironic that Harry has enough baggage on his sleeves and he still said YES to the gargantuan task of playing counsel to his lordship? Has he overburdened himself vacillating from a seesaw of responsibilities: his king first ... and himself second? Di ba dapat sarili niya muna?

7. Footage after footage shows dedeez clamor and battle cry: "Bring Duterte home."

Isn't it ironic that the loyalist copied the same slogan en toto: "Bring Harry Roque home."

8. Regarding the Dream Team, the news is that the lead lawyer was British Nicholas Kaufman. Before the ICC arrest, the Duterte camp always employed the narrative, "Our legal system is working, so why trust a 'foreign' court to decide our issues?"

Isn't it ironic that Duterte 's mistrust and skepticism of anything "foreign" are overwhelming? And he is not wary about Nicholas Kaufman being "foreign?"

9. Another dedeez commented: "Good luck Harry. God will guide you the way ... so the president can have his freedom.

Isn't it ironic that after Digong mocked God and showed nothing but disrespect to him and the Pope ... some dedeez for sheer stubbornness employs the name of God in his defense? This is the day of reckoning, kiddo ... the day of retribution ... the final settlement.

We know God has His own mysterious ways of teaching one a lesson (especially if one doesn't have remorse, is unrepentant, and doesn't show guilt). So let us allow HIM to do what needs to be done ... whatever it is ... "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Two Urban Myths

An urban legend is a modern, often fictional story circulated as true and the genre is often associated with the macabre and other fear-generating stories. The images above are two of these urban myths that strike fear in a lot of people.

Now the folklore has become more vivid, explicit, and illustrative when the myth was splintered into two factions ... depending on what target groups they want to catch.

If the target demographic is CHILDREN ... the narrative describes them as men in WHITE vans snatching children off the streets.

When Digong was allegedly abducted off to Hague another version of a narrative came to light. Those targeting ADULTS are men in WHITE PLANES grabbing would-be victims in airports ... in broad daylight.

Some Ironies About Duterte's Arrest

Irony 1: The Philippine authorities acted on an arrest warrant that the ICC issued and sent to Interpol in Manila. The ICC sought Duterte’s arrest on crimes against humanity, and alleged extrajudicial killings occurring between 2011 and 2019. 

Isn't it ironic that fake news is circulating that there was no copy of the warrant of arrest ever? (Pwede ba sumama si Digong kung wala?) Another case of gas-lighting?

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Irony 2: Fake news is usually used to deceive, mislead, delude, and beguile Filipinos. The aim is to damage the reputation of an entity ... in this case the ICC.

Isn't it ironic that some people can't handle the truth ... what could be more infuriating if it is employed to confuse the people and sway or influence their views by extracting "pity" from gullible members?

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Irony 3: A Duterte supporter commented on the way General Nicolas Torre approached the ex-president.  That is not the way to talk to the president?

Isn't it ironic that this commenter chooses to be mum at the time the president joked about rape victims ... at the time he concocted some malicious and salacious innuendos about Sen Leila de Lima ... when he badmouth the Pope ... and when he was mocking GOD? Where were you lady - some mother of perpetual help to Digong?

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Irony 4: Salvador Medialdia (lawyer of the former president) was quick to accuse ICC that Duterte was kidnapped and forced to leave the country without his consent.

Isn't it ironic to see a kidnapping happening in a public place for all the world to see? To some readers, the ex-president and lawyer Medialia looks comfy in their seats on their way to Hague. 

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Irony 5: A DDS was quoted as saying: "We are law-abiding citizens ... we are not the monsters they thought as to be." That's not what we saw when Honeylet Avancena hammered the police head with a cell phone.

Isn't it ironic that when somebody professed they were law-abiding and were not monsters ... a vivid image of themselves comes to light.

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Irony 6: Another DDS was heard saying: "Bongbong Marcos could have done something more to stop the arrest of FPRRD.

Isn't it ironic that the person they called "bangag", lutang, weak president etc ... ay inaasahan pala nilang maging knight in their shining armor and will come to his rescue pagkatapos nilang laitin at siraan?

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Irony 7. After the wake of Digong's arrest ... si Hariruki (or Harimaw to some) is calling the DDS citizens to march ala People Power at EDSA. Walang originality ha?

Isn't it ironic na ang taong NANANAWAGAN ng people power is a fugitive ... at sa kasalukuyan ay NAGTATAGO?

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Irony 8: After months of seclusion Harry Roque resurfaced in Hague Netherlands just like a lost soul rising from his grave? Does he know what he is doing?

Isn't it ironic that a smart lawyer of his caliber can open a can of worms that will hammer the final nail to his coffin? Careful Harry ... the Interpol is coming!

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Irony 9: The whole landscape of Duterte's woes can be summarized in Duterte's campaign promise: "Mag-jetski ako papuntang China ..."

Isn't it ironic it turned out to be: "Magjetplane ako papuntang Hague Netherlands.

Spme ironies in Duterte's War On Drugs

Irony 1: The former Presidential spokesperson is a HUMAN RIGHTS lawyer and he is not shy and reticent to say that he is.

Isn't it ironic the way he speaks about the victims of the drug war na parang wala silang HUMAN RIGHTS ... the way everybody regarded that as fundamental to all people?

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Irony 2: Looking back at the war on drugs the police (regarded as being in charge of our SAFETY and PEACE in the community) ... are on the prowl to yank and pluck suspected drug lords and users.

Isn't it ironic that doing regular community house-to-house scrutiny and random "tokhang" makes people feel UNSAFE and THREATENED?

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Irony 3: People are talking about the police and their infamous ARRESTS - whether the way and manner they apprehend, seize, grab, and detain their targets are done by the book (and following acceptable rules very strictly).

Isn't it ironic that they have to go the second mile by making their targets fight so they can use the much-abused line - "wala kaming magawa ... nanlaban eh."

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Irony 4: There are cases na hindi naman pala nanlaban ang mga biktima.

Isn't it ironic na sa kaso ni Kian de los Santos -  Kian was found dead in a dark alley on foetal position and was holding a gun. Pinatay na siya, at tinaniman pa ng baril to make it look na nanlaban siya.

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Irony 5: Kian's last words according to witnesses were" Please stop ... please stop ... I have a test tomorrow". His last plea had gone viral sparking a nationwide protest.

Isn't it ironic that somebody's life can end just like that ... at ang mga berdugo itinuloy pa rin ang ginawa without a tinge of remorse ... regret ... or shame?

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Irony 6: The victims were not accorded due process when the arrests were made. Due process includes, inter alia, ensuring the accused person a fair and public trial, the right to be present at the trial, and the right to be heard of his own version of the story.

Isn't it ironic that when the victims were arrested the pro-Duterte supporters were quiet and did not say about the lack of due process and at this time when there is a reversal of roles, Duterte and his ilk made sure they make "due process" as the centerpiece of their complaints?

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Irony 7: If a person decides... he will be an "adik" ... a drug lord ... or a drug dealer ... it was ill-advised and a blunder in judgment. But that is their choice.

Isn't it ironic that even if they choose to be any one of the above ... it was never their choice to be murdered and fall victim ... and be a part of the increasing statistics of casualties and fatalities in the war on drugs?

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DUTERTE ARREST: Debunking the Lies