A political shockwave has rocked the nation as two separate but deeply intertwined dramas unfold, painting a chaotic picture of justice, power, and alleged high-level corruption. In one corner, the Supreme Court has delivered a final, unappealable blow to human rights petitioners targeting former President Rodrigo Duterte. In the other, a massive, multi-billion peso corruption scandal appears to be unraveling, with key allies of the current administration allegedly being protected, witnesses silenced, and a former cabinet secretary “allowed to escape” the country.

This all happens under the shadow of an international warrant rumor, which critics are now calling a “smokescreen” to divert public attention from the real crisis.

The Final Gavel: Supreme Court Shuts Door on Duterte Critics
The Supreme Court (SC) has officially closed the book on a long-running legal battle against former President Duterte. In a document made public, the high court declared its decision to dismiss a petition for protective writs filed by several human rights groups as “final and executory” as of April 29, 2024.

This decision upholds the 14th Division of the Court of Appeals’ (CA) ruling from June 28, 2018, which dismissed the petitions for writs of Amparo and Habeas Data. These legal remedies were sought by groups including Karapatan, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), and Gabriela to protect their members from alleged threats and harassment.

The case took on a tragic dimension after three Karapatan human rights workers—Zara Alvarez, Ryan Hubilla, and Nelli Bagasala—met violent passings. These individuals were supposed to testify in hearings, and their loss became a rallying cry for the petitioners. Despite their pleas and subsequent motions, the Supreme Court was unmoved. The entry of judgment means the decision is now recorded and can no longer be appealed or revised. For critics of the former administration, this is a “slap in the face” and the definitive end of a painful chapter seeking accountability.

The Diversion? Senator ‘Bato’ and the ICC Specter
As one legal door closed, another burst open, this time aimed at a key Duterte ally. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the former national police chief, has been conspicuously absent from the Senate for two consecutive days. His disappearance coincides with a deafening “buzz” (ugong) that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant for his arrest.

The rumor gained serious traction when Senator Imee Marcos revealed she had spoken to Dela Rosa’s wife, who is reportedly “terrified” (takot na takot) and “extremely nervous” (kabadong-kabado) over the situation.

However, this “hunt” for Bato is being fiercely challenged by commentators, who paint it as a deliberate political diversion. “Why are you looking for Bato? Does he have any connection to the flood control scandal?” one prominent vlogger demanded. “People are suffering from the floods, that is the problem. Focus on finding the thieves, not someone unconnected to the ghost projects. You’re all so obvious.”

The warrant controversy descended into farce when Ombudsman Crispin “Boying” Remulla, who first broke the news, was accused of being a “gossiper” (chismoso). His own brother, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary John Vic Remulla, had to publicly clarify the situation. The DOJ chief admitted he had not seen any official warrant. What his brother had, he claimed, was merely an “electronic copy from a third source,” which he dismissed as “not an actionable document.”

This distinction prompted a furious response from critics, who brought up the forcible apprehension of former President Duterte. “They didn’t arrest PRRD, they abducted him!” one source claimed, arguing that a lawful arrest would have involved the Philippine courts. “They plan to do the same to Bato.”

The Real Scandal: Silenced Witnesses and Fleeing Secretaries
While the media fixates on the ICC, Senator Imee Marcos has sounded the alarm on a much larger, domestic scandal: the impending collapse of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into billion-peso “ghost projects.”

Senator Marcos warned that key witnesses are now poised to “recant” their explosive testimonies. All eyes are on Orle Gotesa, a former Marine who delivered a bombshell testimony. Gotesa claimed he personally delivered bags of cash, referred to as “basura” (trash), to figures allegedly including former Congressman Zaldico and, most notably, current House Speaker Martin Romualdez (“Tambi”).

Now, Gotesa is expected to withdraw his entire story. The reason, according to inside sources, is chilling. “His family was subjected to grave threats,” an commentator alleged. “His wife and child were put in imminent danger. What choice does he have?”

This has ignited fury against the senators leading the probe, particularly Tito Sotto and Ping Lacson, who are accused of “deliberately delaying” the investigation. “You delayed and delayed! Now you’ve given the masterminds time to threaten the witnesses!” a source railed. Critics allege this is political “payback” (bayad utang), suggesting the senators were “installed” in their seats and are now protecting the administration.

The alleged cover-up reached a stunning climax with the revelation that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan has fled the country.

The DOJ confirmed Bonoan flew to the United States to “accompany his wife for a medical operation.” They defended the move, stating that while Bonoan is on the immigration watchlist, he has no pending case and thus no Hold Departure Order to prevent his “right to travel.”

This explanation was met with pure rage. “You’re chasing Bato over a non-existent warrant and Kiko Barsaga over Dolomite, but you let this guy go?” an analyst shouted. “He’s at the center of the flood control scandal, and you just let him leave?”

The 3-Billion-Peso Allegation
The most explosive claim, however, comes from a “reliable person” who allegedly provided deep intel on why Bonoan was “allowed to escape” (pinatakas).

First, Bonoan allegedly “knows too much” (maraming alam na baho) about the alleged involvement of President Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in the flood control projects.

Second, and more shocking, is the allegation of a massive “fundraising” scheme. The source claims Bonoan organized a fundraiser with 30 different contractors, each one “donating” 100 million pesos, for a staggering grand total of 3 BILLION pesos allegedly delivered to Bongbong Marcos.

While these are, for now, allegations from an anonymous source, they paint a devastating picture. The commentator predicted Bonoan will never return. “He will stay until December. Then his wife’s condition will ‘worsen.’ Then they’ll spend Christmas there. Then it will be 2026. He’s not coming back.”

This confluence of events has left the public reeling. The Supreme Court has provided finality for the former president, while the current administration is drowning in accusations of diversion, witness tampering, and a multi-billion peso corruption cover-up. As one critic concluded, “This is why the rallies are happening. The people are not fooled. They know you are diverting the investigation. They know you are protecting the masterminds.”