President Duterte, responding to a reporter’s question on how he’d react to US President Barack Obama’s lecture on human rights in the context of the war on illegal drugs, called Obama a “son of a whore” in the dialect and used other expletives.
When I heard this, I said to myself—“there goes the scheduled one-on-one with the US President.”
True enough, the White House canceled the Duterte-Obama meeting.
Soon, Duterte expressed regret of his obscene rant.The people around him did damage control, saying their boss was just misinterpreted by media and that he was just using hyperbole.
We should now be used to the President’s use of vulgar language. He did promise that he would metamorphose when he assumed office. But I had my doubts. A zebra cannot shed its stripes. Thus, since Duterte is now our president, we should just live with him and accept him for what he is.
But will the cancellation of the one-on-one with Obama have any impact on Philippine relations with Washington? I don’t believe so. Washington and Manila have deep relations as allies which go beyond personalities. Still, I agree that the canceled Duterte-Obama meeting was a missed opportunity.
Expletives are second nature to our president. This is why people around him, like Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo and spokesman Ernesto Abella should stop saying that he was misinterpreted or that his words were taken out of context by media. They just make the President sound silly, like he does not realize what he is saying.
As for Mr. Duterte’s obscenities, I take them as mere expressions. I would focus on the message he wants to impart to the people.
Western media report that Duterte insulted Obama. I do not quite see it that way. This is just how he wants to stress a point.
I do believe that the President should temper his language. But we elected him, and so we must embrace him—warts and all.
***
My former Ateneo de Manila University High School student Jesse Paredes texted me the following:
“After more than pushers, addicts, and what have you killed in the momentum of his relentless way on illegal drugs, Du30 now begs Indonesian President Widodo to spare the life of Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso. I am confused.”
I called Jesse since I didn’t know how to text. I told him I am also confused.
Here we are in the Philippines, with 2,400 already dead due to the campaign against illegal drugs. And now President Duterte is begging for the life of a drug mule caught smuggling drugs into Indonesia.
Shouldn’t Du30 just let the Indonesian government do what’s best in accordance with their laws on drug smuggling?
It’s not that I don’t care for the life of a fellow Filipino. But Veloso must have known that smuggling drugs could cost her her life.
***
It has been almost a month now when President Duterte called businessman Roberto Ongpin an oligarch embedded in government.
This is farthest from the truth.
That bolt of lightning also hit Philweb and e-Games employees. Thousands are now jobless and investments of P1.8 billion have been wiped out.
Ongpin has resigned from Philweb of which he was chairman. His 771 million shares would have been worth P20 billion.
At first, Ongpin tried to donate his shares to Pagcor in an attempt to save Philweb. But Andrea Domingo, CEO, and the board of directors turned down this offer. I could not understand their refusal. It would have been a win-win situation for Pagcor.
And then, Ongpin also offered to use his shares to construct rehabilitation centers for drug dependents in Atimonan, Quezon. Again, Pagcor ignored this.
Dennis O. Valdes, Philweb president, also proposed to Pagcor to revive an old plan for a Pagcor Text Bonanza. And now Ongpin, desperate, wants to sell his shares.
It’s rather strange that while President Duterte has apparently charged his mind on online gambling, Pagcor has chosen to ignore the proposal to donate Ongpin’s shares.
It’s unfortunate. Ongpin only meant to save the 6,000 jobs of Philweb and e-Games employees and the investments of 131 entities operating e-Games cafes.
Pagcor should consider Ongpin’s offer.