By Mariela Angella Oladive
Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte held a candle-lighting ceremony and rally in front of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol on March 12, denouncing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against him for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign from 2016 to 2022.
Decrying the arrest, demonstrators revived the claim that Iloilo City was once “shabulized” under past leadership and warned of its supposed resurgence.
However, there is no official data supporting these assertions.
“What they did to Tatay Digong is unacceptable. This is painful for us because we all know what Tatay Digong did for the Philippines and for our youth,” one protester said.
“Before, Iloilo was called ‘shabulized.’ Do you want Iloilo to become ‘shabulized’ again? It hurts to hear that Iloilo was ‘shabulized,’ but look at what’s happening now under the new administration. They arrested Digong, kidnapped him, without proper documents or a warrant. Why is this happening? Because of our dumb president,” she added.
Marcos and ICC Arrest Hit
Keith, who claimed to be Duterte’s former campaign leader in Iloilo in 2016 and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s regional director since 2019, voiced his outrage.
“They arrested Digong, but back when he was in power, he tokhanged (cracked down on) all the drug addicts. And now, do you know who’s ‘bangag’ [Duterte previously called President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘bangag’]? You didn’t know that he had appointed a drug protector, but now you do—a member of the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency),” he said.
Another supporter lamented:
“We joined the rally because we support Digong. He did nothing wrong, so why are they treating him like this? Under him, crime went down even in such a short time. Now, criminals are no longer afraid.”
While many supporters praised Duterte’s administration for its relentless crackdown on illegal drugs, human rights groups have condemned widespread extrajudicial killings and abuses during his term.
Legal Grounds
Despite claims that Duterte was “kidnapped,” his detention followed legal procedures under the ICC arrest warrant.
His daughter, Kitty Duterte, accused the government of kidnapping her father, while Vice President Sara Duterte called it “state kidnapping.”
The Duterte family sought Supreme Court intervention, demanding his return to the Philippines and an explanation from the government regarding his arrest.
However, Malacañang dismissed these claims.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that the arrest followed proper legal procedures.
“A court issued the warrant, and when a court issues an order, compliance is necessary. This involved Interpol, so there is no question of kidnapping,” she said.
Duterte was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 upon his arrival from Hong Kong on March 11.
The next day, Vice President Sara Duterte flew to the Netherlands to assist her father after receiving travel authority from the Office of the President, citing the urgency and confidentiality of the matter.
President Marcos Jr. denied allegations of political persecution, stating that Duterte’s arrest was in compliance with the country’s commitments to Interpol.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that the arrest followed both domestic and international legal procedures.
Under Section 17 of Republic Act No. 9851, the Philippines may surrender suspects or accused individuals to an international court for crimes such as crimes against humanity.
The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber issued the arrest warrant for murder as a crime against humanity under Article 7(1)(a), in relation to Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute.
Despite the controversy, no evidence supports allegations that due process was violated.
Shabulized’ Narrative Resurfaces
During his presidency, Duterte branded Iloilo City as the most ‘shabulized city,’ accusing then-Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of being a drug protector and having ties to drug syndicates.
Mabilog has repeatedly denied the allegations, asserting that his administration’s anti-drug initiatives were recognized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
He was dismissed from office in 2017 over unexplained wealth allegations and went into self-imposed exile.
After seven years abroad, he returned to the Philippines in 2024 and was granted clemency in early 2025.
Despite never facing formal drug-related charges, Mabilog remained a key figure in Duterte’s anti-drug rhetoric regarding Iloilo City.
In an interview with ANC’s Headstart, Mabilog refuted claims that Iloilo was a drug hotspot.
He cited PDEA records, which ranked:
- Iloilo Province 79th out of 81 provinces in drug activity.
- Iloilo City 51st out of 27 highly urbanized cities in drug activity.
“Iloilo City was nowhere near the top 10, not even the top 50,” Mabilog stated.
Mabilog said he attempted several times to meet with Duterte to clear his name but was never granted an audience.
He speculated that personal vendettas and past political rivalries may have influenced Duterte’s accusations against him.
Before Mabilog’s return, Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda urged the PNP and PDEA to release updated records on drug activity across Philippine cities and provinces.
In subsequent reports, Brigadier General Jack Wanky, director of PNP Western Visayas, dismissed the “shabulized” label, saying Iloilo ranked low in drug apprehensions compared to other cities.
“It might just be a perception, but it’s different from reality. Based on our records, Iloilo doesn’t deserve such a title,” Wanky stated.
