Lao Du expressed that he was unwell and missed today's hearing, disappointing many who were looking forward to his brilliant speech.
However, recently, there has been no shortage of comments on Lao Du's future direction. A senior media person from the Philippines published a commentary article, interpreting the current hot news surrounding Lao Du, and directly pointed out: The various investigations, such as the drug cases during Lao Du's time, POGO, and Guo Huaping, are all a "farce" aimed at destroying former President Duterte:
"Investigations for re-election" has always been a joke among congressional inquiries and investigations. This joke refers to the fact that such investigations rarely produce substantial results but can enhance the prestige of legislators through media coverage, ultimately helping them to be re-elected. In other words, the investigation is not the goal; destroying opponents and consolidating one's power is the real purpose.
The two ongoing congressional investigations, POGO and the drug case against former President Duterte, powerfully prove these points.
Even, we might say, these investigations are even more sinister in intent — that is, to politically destroy Lao Du completely, causing him and the Duterte family to lose public support in the 2025 midterm elections, leading to a comprehensive failure.
However, the Marcos camp's plan may not succeed. After all, Duterte is the most popular president in the post-EDSA period.
According to a survey conducted in June 2022 (just as his term ended), about 88% of Filipinos were satisfied with his governance. This is the highest end-of-term approval rating for a Philippine president, a rarity in this country's political scene. Undoubtedly, he has extraordinary charisma and thus a large following, influences that will take decades to fade, if ever.
The current Senate investigations into POGO, including the questioning of Garma, are clearly intended to throw all the dirty water of POGO's illegal activities onto Lao Du.
After all, POGO developed during Lao Du's presidency, and it was also during his administration that POGO, as part of the friendly relations with China, attracted a large number of Chinese people.
So, is the current criminal situation of POGO solely Lao Du's responsibility? To answer this question, we only need to ask another simple question: Why didn't Marcos ban POGO on his first day in office, but only addressed the issue in his third year?
More strangely, the Marcos government authorized PAGCOR, the agency responsible for regulating online gambling companies, to revoke all past licenses and issue new ones. Why issue new licenses? Is it for new returns?
Looking back at past so-called investigations, we find that in the Marcos government's attempt to destroy Lao Du, three women played different roles to varying extents:
1. The threatened Garma
In the hearing of the Quad Committee, Garma (Royina Garma) stated that the former president asked her to recommend a police officer to implement a reward system for police executing drug lords. However, strangely, just two days before she made these allegations, a police colonel testified that Garma ordered the killing of a PCSO officer who was gathering evidence. Is this a threat to her, that if she does not "oppose" Duterte, the Quad Committee will continue to investigate her alleged crimes?
Clearly, these investigations are aimed at demonizing Duterte, thereby implicating his recommended candidates and himself, such as his daughter, the current Vice President Sara Duterte, who, according to the current situation, is a strong candidate for the next president.
In addition to domestic opposition forces, the United States clearly does not want Lao Du to make a comeback, given that the former president is a clear anti-American. There are reports that the United States is trying to use billions of dollars in budget to persuade the International Criminal Court to convict Lao Du through international trials. In addition to breaking down Lao Du, the United States will also use various means to deal with Vice President Sara, preventing her from continuing Lao Du's political path, thus allowing the Marcos government to continue as America's pawn in East Asia.
2. Hontiveros
Because of Guo Huaping's trial, minority leader Hontiveros came into our view. In the early stages, the committee led by Hontiveros conducted various investigations around the various tabloid news and gossip about Guo Huaping. However, as the investigation progressed, it gradually moved towards political defamation, and the claim emerged that Lao Du was the instigator of POGO's criminal activities.
For example, at the hearing, someone portrayed the Lao Du government as a corrupt regime because POGO flourished during his administration. Besides, the police chief during Lao Du's term, Ronald dela Rosa, revealed at a recent Senate hearing that a so-called resourceful person was planning to link him with Guo Huaping, alleging that he received bribes from her during Duterte's administration. Clearly, various signs indicate that someone is using Hontiveros's investigation of POGO as a means to convict Lao Du.
In fact, no one can withstand scrutiny under a magnifying glass, such as if we focus on the leader of this investigation, Hontiveros, we will also find her various doubts. Hontiveros previously focused on human rights and family issues, so why would she suddenly want to investigate POGO? The only explanation is that she and other members of the committee received information about Guo and POGO from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Committee (PAOCC) and conducted the investigation under the guidance of relevant parties.
3. The pawn Guo Huaping
In fact, Guo Huaping is likely just one of the tens of thousands of Chinese recruited by POGO operators, who found that bribing immigration officials to obtain Philippine citizenship was cheaper, thus transforming from Fujian girl Guo Huaping to Philippine girl Alice Guo. We have heard too much about Guo Huaping's story, but few question that Guo Huaping's hearing has been going on for seven months, yet the focus of discussion has always been on the POGO masterminds, etc., without anyone pointing out that the deep reason Guo Huaping could obtain a fake identity is the corruption problem of the immigration bureau.
Since April, Guo Huaping has been talking nonsense. Now, the committee is also absurdly undertaking a "national security mission," claiming to expose the "spy identities" of Guo Huaping and others, turning serious hearings into episodes full of laughable soap operas. The investigation and trial about Guo Huaping are indeed a TV drama, as most of the so-called evidence is fabricated. Even Guo Huaping herself is just a pawn in this "overthrow Duterte" farce.
Whether it's Garma, Hontiveros, or Guo Huaping, it's clear that they are not the leading forces in this "overthrow Lao Du" farce, and they may not even wish from their hearts for Lao Du to be "overthrown." However, due to various reasons and backgrounds, they eventually participated in this "overthrow Lao Du" farce in different roles. Perhaps, to some extent, this is also another manifestation of Lao Du's "charm with women."
