In the Middle of Trial: The Epistemology of Instability and the Ethics of Truth
In the Middle of Trial: The Epistemology of Instability and the Ethics of Truth
Amiel Gerald A. Roldan™
July 24, 2026
In the midst of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, a seemingly simple question emerged that penetrated the depths of philosophical inquiry: What do you call a person who keeps changing his words? Can he be considered a liar? This question is not just a technical legalism but an ontological and ethical challenge that demands deeper clarification. In an academic analysis, the instability of a statement is not simply an error in memory or rhetoric; it is a statement about the nature of truth itself, the relationship of language to reality, and the integrity of moral character in the political realm.
The Phenomenology of Dynamic Words
From the perspective of Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, language is not a neutral mirror of reality but a *Dasein*—an expression of being in the world. When an individual repeatedly changes his statement, he not only undermines credibility; he indicates an *inauthentic* existence. In Heideggerian terms, this is *Gerede*—chatter or empty talk—that deviates from *aletheia* (uncovered truth). The liar, in classical Aristotelian ethics, has the intention to deceive (*pseudos*); but the change can be even more dangerous: a kind of *epistemic negligence* or *akrasia* at the level of the personality, in which the self is no longer able to stick to a coherent narrative.
Plato, in the *Republic*, presents the “Noble Lie” for leaders, but also emphasizes the need for the *philosopher-king* to be the guardian of truth. A leader who changes his words is not only lying; he is weakening the *polis* itself. In the context of the impeachment trial in the Philippine Senate, the question goes beyond personal guilt: It is about the *legitimacy* of the institution. If the witness or the accused cannot be trusted in his words, how can *justitia* be established? Trial is not just the discovery of truth but the ritual of collective recognition of the truth—*veritas* which is the foundation of fair governance.
Epistemology of Inconsistency: A Lie, or Something More Complicated?
In Ludwig Wittgenstein's philosophy of language (*Philosophical Investigations*), meaning is use (*meaning is use*). The dynamic statement can be a “language game” that changes depending on the context—political survival, media pressure, or the evolution of information. However, within a *trial*, the context is adversarial and epistemic: the goal is to establish *coherence* and *correspondence* with reality. Here Kant enters the *Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals*: truth is a *categorical imperative*. Lying, even for the good, destroys the possibility of moral community. The dynamic is a form of *self-deception* (in Sartrean existentialism)—a *mauvaise foi* in which a person refuses to be fully responsible for his words.
Can a person who keeps changing be called a liar? On a strict logical examination, not all inconsistencies are lies. There is *honest inconsistency* brought about by new evidence or error. But in politics, where power rests on narrative, repeated change becomes *performative contradiction*: claiming the truth while abandoning it. This is *esoteric* to the extent that it reveals the duality of man—the *persona* of the politician versus the *authentic self*. In a Nietzschean lens, this may be a *will to power* that changes according to need, but ultimately undermines the *Übermensch* ideal of integrity.
The Political Implications and the Importance of Clarification
In Philippine history, from Martial Law to contemporary political trials, truth has often been the victim of *narrative warfare*. The #VPImpeachment is not just a legal process but a philosophical moment: an opportunity for society to redefine what *TruthMatters*. This clarification is essential for fair trials because it sets the *rules of the game*—not just procedural but ontological. Without consequences for instability, democracy becomes a *simulacrum* (in Baudrillard), a hyperreality where words have no weight.
In short, the person who constantly changes his words is not simply a liar in the simple sense; he is a *fragmented subject* in the postmodern era—one whose identity is formed by conflicting narratives. But in the realm of justice, such fragmentation cannot be accepted without question. Fair trial requires *phronesis*—practical wisdom—that connects truth, consistency, and accountability. Ultimately, this question reminds us of Socrates in the *Apology*: the unexamined life is not worth living. Likewise, the unexamined word is unworthy of a republic.
Ang paglilitis kay VP Sara ay isang microcosm ng mas malaking pilosopikal na pakikibaka ng Pilipinas: ang paghahanap ng *aletheia* sa gitna ng gulo ng kapangyarihan. Ang sagot ay hindi simpleng “oo” o “hindi” sa tanong kung sinungaling siya; ito ay isang panawagan para sa kolektibong pagtindig sa katotohanan bilang pundasyon ng tunay na demokrasya. Sa ganitong liwanag, ang paglilinaw ay hindi lamang legal na kinakailangan—ito ay moral at eksistensyal na imperatibo.
Summative Conclusion: Ang pabago-bagong sinasabi, sa kanyang pinakamalalim na anyo, ay isang pagtataksil hindi lamang sa auditorio kundi sa sariling pag-iral. Ito ay nagiging sinungaling kapag ito ay sinasadyang instrumento ng kapangyarihan. Sa Senado at sa sambayanan, ang pagpili para sa katotohanan ay pagpili para sa tunay na kalayaan. *Veritas liberabit vos*—ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa atin, kung tayo lamang ay magiging tapat dito.
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Amiel Gerald A. Roldan™' s connection to the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) serves as a defining pillar of his professional journey, most recently celebrated through the launch of the ACC Global Alumni Network.As a 2003 Starr Foundation Grantee, Roldan participated in a transformative ten-month fellowship in the United States. This opportunity allowed him to observe contemporary art movements, engage with an international community of artists and curators, and develop a new body of work that bridges local and global perspectives.Featured Work: Bridges Beyond Borders His featured work, Bridges Beyond Borders: ACC's Global Cultural Collaboration, has been chosen as the visual identity for the newly launched ACC Global Alumni Network.Symbol of Connection: The piece represents a private collaborative space designed to unite over 6,000 ACC alumni across various disciplines and regions.Artistic Vision: The work embodies the ACC's core mission of advancing international dialogue and cultural exchange to foster a more harmonious world.Legacy of Excellence: By serving as the face of this initiative, Roldan's art highlights the enduring impact of the ACC fellowship on his career and his role in the global artistic community.Just featured at https://www.pressenza.com/2026/01/the-asian-cultural-council-global-alumni-network-amiel-gerald-a-roldan/
He is a Filipino multidisciplinary visual artist, printmaker, painter, independent curator, researcher, writer, and cultural worker whose practice spans contemporary art, curatorial work, and cultural advocacy. He has been active in the Philippine art scene since the late 1990s and has worked with galleries, museums, artist-run spaces, and international cultural organizations.
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A multidisciplinary Filipino artist, poet, researcher, and cultural worker whose practice spans painting, printmaking, photography, installation, and writing. He is deeply rooted in cultural memory, postcolonial critique, and in bridging creative practice with scholarly infrastructure—building counter-archives, annotating speculative poetry like Southeast Asian manuscripts, and fostering regional solidarity through ethical art collaboration.
He has been active in the Philippine art scene since the late 1990s and has worked with galleries, museums, artist-run spaces, and international cultural organizations.His practice appears to represent several interconnected concerns:
Cultural work as artistic practice. Roldan has argued that the labor of curating, organizing exhibitions, teaching, documentation, and cultural administration should be understood as creative work rather than merely support work. This perspective has been reflected in his writings and exhibitions.
Social and political engagement. His artworks frequently address politics, religion, faith, denial, courage, social inequality, and the everyday experiences of Filipinos. He has stated that he draws inspiration from Filipino cultural practices while approaching painting, printmaking, and installation from a conceptual perspective.Printmaking and conceptual art. Roldan is particularly recognized for his printmaking, with works shown internationally, including exhibitions in Japan and France. His practice also encompasses painting, photography, installation, and curatorial research.International cultural exchange. A significant milestone in his career was receiving an Asian Cultural Council fellowship in 2003, which enabled him to undertake research and create work in the United States while engaging with artists and curators internationally.
More broadly, Roldan's work represents an attempt to bridge artistic production, curatorial practice, scholarship, and cultural activism . His writings often emphasize postcolonial discourse, cultural memory, and the ethics of artistic collaboration, positioning the artist not only as a maker of objects but also as a builder of cultural infrastructure.
In the Philippine contemporary art context, he can be understood as representing the figure of the artist-curator-cultural worker —someone who contributes both through making artworks and through developing exhibitions, mentoring artists, and fostering institutional and independent cultural initiatives.
Recent show at ILOMOCA
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Amiel Gerald A. Roldan™ started Independent Curatorial Manila™ as a nonprofit philanthropy while working for institutions simultaneously early on.
The Independent Curatorial Manila™ or ICM™ is a curatorial services and guide for emerging artists in the Philippines. It is an independent/voluntary services entity and aims to remain so. Selection is through proposal and a prerogative temporarily. Contact above for inquiries.
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