When smile turns to silence

It was supposed to be a routine gathering — a well-attended weekly meeting featuring a high-profile guest speaker. This wasn’t just any speaker, but a prominent person of authority with a name that has been dominating national headlines.

He arrived in high spirits, beaming as he made his way around the room, shaking hands, taking selfies, and engaging with everyone. The atmosphere was light, even celebratory. From our seats at the back, we observed, waiting for our turn to exchange pleasantries.

Then came the introductions.

The moment we were introduced as media, his expression changed instantly. The warmth in his demeanor evaporated, the broad smile vanished, and his tone stiffened. Before we could even ask a question, he preemptively shut down any conversation.

“I have a gag order,” he said, his voice now carefully measured. And just like that, we were told he wouldn’t be able to deliver his speech and speak freely if media practitioners were inside the room.

But here’s the thing — this man has been all over the news, both print and broadcast. He has spoken with and have given statements to media on record, and has been at the center of national conversations. Why so media shy all of a sudden?

Puzzle pieces fall into place

A core group within the administration made plans to arrest former President Rodrigo Duterte even before the ICC issued its warrant.

This was the point that Senator Imee Marcos emphasized during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the arrest initiated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes against humanity charges against Duterte and some of his men for deaths attributed to the war on drugs.

Senator Marcos referred to the revelation of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla about a “core group” that masterminded Duterte’s arrest as nothing short of the “smoking gun.”

The senator expressed alarm over what she described as a “premeditated and unconstitutional” effort by top government officials.

“The claim of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla that the supposed arrest effort was only based on rumors is incredible,” Marcos said in a press briefing Thursday.

She said the supposed effort was not mere rumor, and Remulla’s incredible claim only served to confirm what many had feared — a dragnet was out for the former president.

Based on what was extracted from the inquiry, a comprehensive plan to arrest the former president was already in place even before the date indicated in the ICC warrant of 11 March.

What followed was an attempt to cover up what was aired in the media.

Police units were mobilized as early as 10 March, while National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, ironically Duterte’s former interior secretary, tracked the former chief executive’s movements.

Senator Marcos said the puzzle was now complete: “There were glaring violations of the rights of the former president. No warrant was issued by a Philippine court. The arrest did not fall under the exceptions to warrantless arrest.

Most of the actions taken were gross violations of the constitutional safeguards protecting liberty and due process.”