An online poster “Global Tribute to Tatay Digong” with an accompanying text in Chinese has been circulating on social media platforms being followed by supporters of the Dutertes.
It’s a call for an activity on March 28 for the 80th birthday of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained in Scheveningen, The Hague while awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity of murder in connection to the extrajudicial killings in the course of his war against illegal drugs during his presidency.
Here’s a Google translation of the accompanying text in Chinese:
“Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is a national hero who has won the hearts of millions of Filipinos.
“In 2016, he launched a popular campaign to defeat the cabal and criminal groups that were conspiring to make the Philippines the ‘sick man of Asia’ forever.
“His platform of cracking down on gangs and drug trafficking, crime and corruption won the hearts of millions of Filipinos.
“Today, his opponents, cronies and politicians are guilty of treason for bringing him to the International Criminal Court. Even foreign observers are outraged at how the government has abandoned its own people.
“The propaganda machine created by the Philippine media has lost its ability to influence public opinion. They remain silent on reports of the government’s involvement in smuggling, drug trafficking and money laundering.
“On March 28, Duterte celebrated his 80th birthday. The Filipino people who support him will hold a grand tribute event for him with the theme of ‘Let’s Make the World Green’.”
A colleague, who monitors Chinese social media, said she has seen the online poster in several accounts the past days.
It is common knowledge that nothing in China, be it online or offline, would be allowed to be shared and distributed if not approved by the Chinese government.
“Alaga pa rin ng China si Duterte”
China’s denial of reports that it rejected Duterte’s request for asylum while he was in Hong Kong the weekend before he was arrested upon his return to Manila was consistent with its initial reaction to the March 11 arrest.
Asked about the arrest of the former president, who had boasted of his closeness to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated, “China’s consistent view that the International Criminal Court should strictly follow the principle of complementarity, exercise its functions and powers prudently in accordance with the law and prevent politicization or double standards.”
The spokesperson also said China “is closely following how this might develop.”
It’s interesting to note that the 16-country itinerary of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte which began last week up to May includes China.
A source closely following Duterte’s ICC case said despite the former president’s odious international reputation, “Alaga pa rin ng China si Duterte (China continues to take care of Duterte.)”
Indeed, China couldn’t find a more useful and impactful set of proxies than the Dutertes in its geopolitical competition with the United States in the Asia Pacific in the same way that the Americans have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
China’s leadership has given up on Marcos continuing the kind of relationship it had with the Philippines under Duterte after the former allowed the U.S. to set up more Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA) sites close to Taiwan.
Social media monitors observe consistent foreign malign hand in the proliferation of disinformation on the West Philippine Sea issue and the alarming surge on ICC before and after the March 11 arrest of Duterte.
It’s also noteworthy that Vice President Sara Duterte is referred to in many of those posts in Chinese social media as “the next Philippine president.”
The views in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of VERA Files.
