Midnight has long passed, yet sleep evades me.
My eyes remain wide open, as if they already know I won't be resting tonight.
There's a heaviness in my chest, a sinking feeling that refuses to leave.
The world is in turmoil, and so is my heart.
Our beloved Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Tatay Digong-has been arrested.
March 11, 2025-a day that will forever be etched in history.
Taken under questionable circumstances, forcibly dragged to the International Criminal Court (ICC) like a common criminal.
It was unjust.
It was heartbreaking.
And as I sit here, watching the live broadcast unfold, I can feel my tears spilling over, one by one.
I was never the type to blindly follow political figures.
I do not devote myself to parties, colors, or power.
But I stand with those who truly care for this country-those who bled, fought, and sacrificed for the nation's future.
And of all the leaders I have known, Tatay Digong was different.
He wasn't perfect.
No leader is.
But what made him stand out wasn't just his bravery-it was his love for the Filipino people.
He never sought honor or prestige.
He didn't need elaborate speeches to prove his worth. He was a man of action.
The world condemned him for his war on drugs, calling him ruthless, heartless, a dictator.
But they never lived in the shadows of fear like we did before he took office.
They never saw the children orphaned by crimes committed under the influence.
They never heard the cries of women violated by drug-crazed monsters.
They never mourned innocent lives stolen by addicts who felt invincible because they knew the law would protect them more than their victims.
They cry out for human rights-but what about the rights of those who were murdered, assaulted, and destroyed by drugs?
Who speaks for them?
When Tatay Digong waged war against drugs, people surrendered.
Crime rates plummeted.
For the first time in years, we felt safe walking the streets at night.
But now, as I look around, I see the shadows creeping back.
The monsters he once locked away have returned.
And now they come for him.
They dig up old issues, twist the truth, rewrite history-not for justice, but for power.
They want to erase what he has done because his leadership exposed their incompetence.
They want to silence him because he was never afraid to call them out.
They want to break him because his strength terrifies them.
Where will we ever find another leader like him?
A President who never used his power to glorify himself.
A man who, despite his age, stood at the front lines with his soldiers-no hesitation, no fear, just unwavering determination to protect his people.
A leader who rushed to disaster-stricken areas without cameras, without press, without pretense-just a bag of relief goods and a heart full of concern.
"I do not aspire to be honored, I do not aspire to be known. I'm just a citizen, a worker of the government, and I will do what I have to do to protect the people, especially the next generation."
Those words alone speak volumes of his character.
This man is a legend, a leader whose impact will be remembered for generations.
Because true leaders do not seek recognition.
They do what must be done, even if the world turns against them.
And yet, here we are, watching him fight against forces determined to break him.
Tears continue to fall as I realize-this is the first time I have ever cried for a President.
Maybe it's because I'm older now, because I understand more, because I see the reality of our country with clearer eyes.
But one thing is certain-this world will never offer us true peace.
Tatay Digong, wherever you are, I pray for you.
May God grant you strength, wisdom, and health as you face these battles.
And may the Filipino people finally wake up.
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POV
SaggisticaLife often presents itself as a series of hurdles, each one taller than the last. These hurdles, though daunting, are not meant to break us but to shape us into who we are meant to be. It is through our darkest nights that we gain the strength to fa...
