Courtesy: Office of the Vice President
A POLITICAL scientist on Saturday said the long-cultivated image of toughness and invincibility surrounding the Duterte family and its allies may be starting to crack as key figures linked to the camp face impeachment and International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings.
Cleve Arguelles, president and chief executive officer of WR Numero Research, said recent political developments involving Vice President Sara Duterte and prominent Duterte allies are beginning to reshape public perception.
“I think ang clear po ay nababasag ‘yung imahe ng katapangan noong buong Duterte family and their allies,” Arguelles said during the weekly Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
Arguelles said the Duterte camp had long projected an image of fearlessness and aggression through confrontational rhetoric and public bravado.
“Magsuntukan tayo, ipapapatay kita, you face me, magharap tayo,” Arguelles said, describing the political style associated with the Duterte administration.
But unlike before, he said, political institutions and rivals are now openly responding to those challenges.
“Ngayon ‘yung difference ay nakikita kasi ‘pag humahamon sila, may sumasagot sa hamon, hindi pala nila mapaninindigan ‘yung hamon,” he said.
Arguelles pointed to the refusal of Duterte to directly answer allegations during House proceedings, the reported disappearance of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa amid ICC-related controversies, and the absence of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, whom he described as a fugitive.
“Si Vice President Sara hindi masyadong sumaharap doon sa mga alegasyon. Hindi naman sila, never naman sila nag-participate doon sa House proceedings,” Arguelles pointed out.
He added: “And then you have of course the allies, the key allies, Senator Bato dela Rosa, tumatakbo po sa kanyang arrest warrant. You also have the former spokesperson, Secretary Harry Roque, also a fugitive.”
He also noted that former President Duterte himself has yet to personally appear before the ICC.
“At si former President Rodrigo Duterte naman sa ICC niya, hindi pa humaharap. Never pa rin nag-allow ‘yung defense team niya doon na mag-participate siya in person doon sa ongoing trial niya,” he said.
Arguelles said these developments matter politically because Filipinos closely watch the behavior, demeanor and character projected by public officials, especially in an era dominated by social media and nonstop political coverage.
“Malaking bagay po ‘yung imahe, malaking bagay po kung ano po yung ipinapakita ng karakter ng ating mga politiko,” he said.
The political scientist added that survey data already suggest many Filipinos want ICC-related proceedings involving Duterte allies to move forward, including against Dela Rosa.
“Since 2024, majority ng nasu-survey po namin gusto na harapin niya ‘yung kaso sa ICC personally na siya po ay maaresto,” Arguelles said.
“So I think more and more magkakaroon lang ng, magki-crystalize lang ‘yung public opinion na dapat nilang harapin itong iba’t ibang mga kaso,” he added.
Arguelles said the developments could ultimately weaken the perception that Duterte allies are politically untouchable.
“So makakaapekto ‘yun sa kanilang image na sila ay hindi matitibag,” Arguelles stressed.
