Falsehood as Lawfare: The Dangerous Weaponization of Rumors Against Duterte’s Sovereign Anti-Drug Crusade
By Atty. Arnedo S. Valera I. INTRODUCTION: A TRIAL BY TSISMIS The recent public remarks by Atty. Kristina Conti—suggesting that former President Rodrigo Duterte and his family amassed untold billions from drug lords—represent a serious breach not only of ethical standards in legal advocacy but also of truth and sovereignty. These are grave, defamatory allegations unsupported by admissible evidence and tantamount to reckless endangerment of public discourse . In a rule-of-law society, accusations of criminality must be proven in court , not speculated on in media soundbites. When a self-proclaimed “human rights lawyer” peddles unverified tsismis (gossip) as fact, and when such gossip is used to justify international prosecution, it is not justice—it is lawfare: the political weaponization of law to destroy reputations, undermine sovereignty, and manipulate public perception. II. THE LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK OF THE WAR ON DRUGS A. A Legitimate N...
