It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend

DAILY REFLECTION - BY DR TANTEK SENG

• 13 March 2025

"Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me."

Psalm 41:9

Betrayal is never easy to handle and there are no easy answers. It is a wound that can take a lifetime to heal.

Rodrigo Duterte served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is known for his hardline anti-drug campaign, which has sparked significant criticism from human rights advocates and international organizations due to alleged human rights abuses. On March 11, 2025, he was arrested at Manila International Airport shortly after returning from a trip to Hong Kong and subsequently transported by chartered flight to The Hague, Netherlands, where the International Criminal Court is located.

He may experience feelings of abandonment or betrayal from those in power who were once part of his political circle and whom he had trusted. President Marcos's actions could be interpreted as placing his own political security and reputation above loyalty to his former mentor. As Duterte confronts possible accountability from the ICC, today’s verse highlights the notion that even his closest allies may not support him during difficult times, reflecting the sense of betrayal that often arises in high-pressure situations.

Psalm 41:9 symbolises the changing allegiances that can occur when personal friendships are eclipsed by the obligations of public service and the weight of responsibility. It highlights the anguish that arises when a person we deeply trust betrays us.