Faced with tough challenges even before the trial begins, the Duterte camp is working to win the former president's case in the streets rather than through the legal channels, which they have long been trying to besmirch through black propaganda and other forms of disinformation.

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.

If this was kidnapping, it was kidnapping in style. Convince the three ICC judges of Pre-Trial Chamber I that it was a crime.