FIRING LINE: Beware the backlash

By Robert B. Roque, Jr.

An analyst in the United States gave this as one of the reasons the Democrats faltered against Donald Trump in the recent elections: “an overzealous misuse of the law to punish him.”

Apparently, the barrage of criminal cases filed against the Republican flagbearer brushed off on voters as less like a pursuit of justice and more like a vendetta. This turned Trump into a perceived victim.

Moderates who value fairness grew wary of weaponizing the justice system for political ends and, thus, went for Trump.

Firing Line sees a parallel and offers caution to the Quadcom of the House of Representatives. Yes, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte must answer for his transgressions, but these hearings must tread carefully to avoid excess.

Dragging an octogenarian ex-president through prolonged public grillings, sometimes stretching into the wee hours of the morning, risks tipping the scales of sympathy.

Critics of Duterte should remember that every insult and overreach during these hearings chips away at their credibility, potentially turning the tables.

Duterte’s endurance at the sessions — staying until 2 a.m., despite his daughter, VP Sara Duterte, urging him to leave — showcases not only his resilience but a performance that resonates. His supporters are in awe and celebrate this.

Because of this, even the most unreasonable comments on social media gain traction and earn a semblance of right. Sara, for example, called her father the “best dramatic actor,” a sly nod to his calculated defiance. Again, this seems to be celebrated in a positive light.

And why so? Because a number among the Quadcomm are the very same officials who not only gave a nod but defended tooth and nail the Duterte-time budgets for his vicious War on Drugs.

They are now conveniently flipping the script. These lawmakers, who once lauded the ex-president’s initiatives or benefited from his administration’s favor, have suddenly recast themselves as paragons of accountability.

The irony isn’t lost on the public. Quadcom hearings, which should have been a platform for uncovering truths, risk becoming political theater, driven by opportunism rather than a genuine pursuit of justice.

Be mindful that these congressional hearings — however theatrical and revealing — aren’t justice; they’re a stage for political opportunists to relaunch careers or curry favor with the current regime.

If these sessions devolve into a spectacle of humiliation — long-winded, repetitive interrogations peppered with insults — they could alienate not just Duterte loyalists but undecided moderates who value fairness.

When justice appears performative, it becomes less credible, and the accused, even someone as polarizing as Duterte, starts to look like a victim.

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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View. Read current and past issues of this column at http://www.thephilbiznews.com