Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines’ unapologetic political firebrand, has outdone himself in his latest theatrical performance. 

On one side of his mouth, he declares an unshakable faith in the Philippine judicial system, professing his preference to face justice on home soil—a touching display of patriotism, if not for the irony. On the other side, he dares the International Criminal Court to “bring it on,” swaggering like a man auditioning for a James Bond villain role. Is it hubris, or just another Duterte quip designed to keep his critics dizzy?

His duality leaves us in awe. Is he a staunch nationalist unwilling to bow to international scrutiny, or is he the ultimate showman, knowing full well the ICC doesn’t operate on a dare system? Either way, his gambit guarantees one thing: Duterte remains the headline king. Whether justice is served in Manila or The Hague, the spectacle is far from over.