AMID heated debates nationwide over the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent order for the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, more than 3,000 police officers in Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod City, have been instructed to refrain from making personal comments on the issue.
Colonel Rainerio de Chavez, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), said on March 20 that he had advised his 2,600 officers across the province’s 31 towns and cities to steer clear of discussions regarding Duterte’s arrest.
“It’s my appeal to everyone to stay apolitical,” De Chavez said.
A similar directive was issued by Bacolod City Police Office director, Colonel Joeresty Coronica, to his 1,064 subordinates.
But the question remains: is this not a form of gagging?
A Friendly Reminder
Colonel Coronica was quick to clarify that the appeal is not a gag order.
Rather, he described it as a friendly reminder to all city police officers to stay out of potential trouble and help maintain the Bacolod City Police Office’s tradition of being apolitical.
“Please, refrain from commenting. Whatever our sentiments may be about Duterte’s arrest, we should keep them to ourselves. There’s no need to let others know,” Coronica emphasized in his appeal.
Fair enough.
But why the need for such a reminder?
The joint appeal of De Chavez and Coronica came on the heels of the controversy surrounding Patrolman Francis Steve Tallion Fontillas, a member of the Quezon City Police District, who is now in hot water.
Fontillas has been recommended for dismissal from the service after posting adverse comments about Duterte’s arrest. He was alleged to have violated the Philippine National Police’s Primer on Personnel Decorum, its Code of Ethics, and other regulations.
Now, Fontillas is reportedly missing.
“I want to protect my men from any debacles,” Coronica said. “There’s really no harm in being apolitical.”
Point taken.
But at the end of the day, it’s still up to each policeman — whether to brave the storm, should it come, or to heed the call of their superiors.
After all, freedom of speech remains alive and well in the Philippines.
‘Craziest, Most Anomalous’
Meanwhile, at a rally held at the Bacolod Public Plaza on Wednesday, March 19, Sagip party-list representative-turned-senatorial aspirant Rodante Marcoleta slammed Duterte’s arrest, calling it illegal.
Marcoleta, a staunch pro-Duterte lawmaker, lashed out at the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for allegedly railroading the arrest and for allowing the former president’s surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
“It was the craziest and most anomalous thing that happened to this country,” Marcoleta declared.
In contrast, the Kiko-Bam senatorial rally — featuring Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino — held on the same day at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Libertad, Bacolod City, made no mention of Duterte’s arrest.
The event was notably calm, civil, and professional — highlighted by the presence of former Vice President Leni Robredo.
Only former senator Leila de Lima, now the first nominee of the ML Party-list, spoke about her ordeal — recounting her seven years of incarceration and the struggles she endured.
However, de Lima never mentioned Duterte’s name or made any direct reference to him as the source of her suffering.
A known critic of the former president, de Lima instead raised the bar of professionalism in campaigning — restrained, focused, and admirable.
Shaping Opinions
Nonetheless, the topic of Duterte’s arrest remains a hot and unending issue — especially now, in the thick of the election season. It continues to shape public opinion, which could prove vital in the upcoming May 12 elections and the anticipated impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Indeed, it’s undeniable: people — young and old alike — are deeply immersed in the issue.
On Facebook, in marketplaces, coffee shops, schools, bus terminals, malls — wherever you go — Duterte’s arrest is a trending topic.
Naturally, there are those who support him, and those who don’t.
But at this point, it’s impossible to say which side truly has the upper hand: the pro- or anti-Duterte camp.
One thing is certain for now — former president Rodrigo Duterte remains a “man of substance.”
Everyone seems to have something to say about his case, his arrest, and even his storied political journey.
To some, he’s a villain — a berdugo — because of his bloody and controversial war on drugs during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
But to many others, he’s more than just a legend—he’s a hero./PN
