Who gave the final order to board former President Duterte onto that plane?

Opinion

Who gave the final order to board former President Duterte onto that plane?

By Rob Rances

Why can’t they answer the simplest, most crucial question: Who gave the final order to board former President Duterte onto that plane?

Instead of transparency, we’re met with deflections, vague answers, and then—executive privilege.

The only hint we’ve been given is that everything “went through the DOJ.” But that’s not an answer. That’s a dodge. And the longer they dance around this question, the more serious the implications become.

Why is this specific question so sensitive that they’re unwilling to say it out loud?
What are they protecting—and who?

Because this isn’t just about logistics. This is about sovereignty, accountability, and the rule of law.

If no one will own the order, then the arrest may not just be controversial—it may be unconstitutional.

And in the context of the ICC case, it could be interpreted as state cooperation with foreign jurisdiction, raising serious red flags about external influence, chain of command, and national dignity.

And what if the order didn’t come from the President?

What if someone outside the executive—someone powerful enough that PNP generals couldn’t say “no”—was actually calling the shots?

What does that say about our democracy?
About the integrity of our armed institutions?
About who really holds power in this country?

This isn’t just about a flight.
It’s about the future of our constitutional order.
Are they refusing to tell us because the truth might reveal who’s actually in control of this nation’s pilot seat?

(Editor’s Note: Mr.Rances is a Master Neuroplastician | The Philippines’ Pioneering Authority in Brain Capital and the Brain Economy: Reorganizing the Economy for Brain-Positive Future | Speaker, Entrepreneur, and Consultant. Founder of Synapsity. Studied at the  Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan School of Management)