In my last column, I praised President Rodrigo Duterte for being a hands-on, take-charge leader. He cut short his official visit in Russia and fly home to deal with the invasion of Marawi City by the terrorist Maute group.
His declaration of martial law throughout Mindanao was well received by a great majority of the people but with a little apprehension by some. Addressing government troops in Iligan City where Marawi residents fled, Duterte spoiled it all by being his usual offensive self.
“If you rape up to three, I’ll take responsibility and take care of the rest,” Duterte told the troops.
The insensitive remark drew the rebuke and ire of former presidential daughter Chelsea Clinton who called the Philippine president “a murderous thug.” Digong’s statement was also met with derision by the women’s group Gabriela who said “rape is not a joke and it heightens the vulnerability of women and children to soldiers’ abuse that it brings during martial law.”
Duterte’s joke about rape recalls the same insensitive remark he made about an Australian missionary who was gang-raped in Davao. “As a ranking official (he was then Davao city mayor), I should have been first in line,” he said. The Australian government protested the crude remark.
Someone has to tell the President that he can rule without being unruly himself. That he visited the wounded soldiers in a hospital in Iligan is commendable. But to redeem himself, President Duterte should perhaps be with his troops at the forefront of the battle against the Maute terrorist group still holed out in Marawi. He’s fond of saying “I’ll kill you” every instance when he’s delivering a speech. Now is the time for him to prove his macho self—by joining the government troops fighting the Mautes.
The Maute group has identified itself with the international terrorist group ISIS whose black flag was hoisted in a captured government building in Marawi. Some foreign fighters with the Mautes were spotted by government troops. Some of the foreigners were reported to be from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and of Middle Eastern origin.
Risks of rejecting EU aid
President Duterte’s quarrel with the European Union and his statement he does not need or would not accept EU aid has drawn negative reactions from certain quarters.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon expressed concern that Mr. Duterte’s decision to reject 250 million euros in EU aid puts at risk the Philippines’ duty-free privileges with several European countries. This has alarmed Filipino exporters because of its adverse effect on Philippine products.
Duterte slammed the EU for its criticism of his war on illegal drugs and the extrajudicial killings surrounding the government campaign.
“Rejecting EU aid might trigger the removal of the Philippines from the Generalized System of Preferences Plus [GSP],” warned Drilon.
Business Monitor International, a unit of Fitch Group, said President Duterte’s unpredictability and the political uncertainties prevailing in the Philippines could affect the country’s economic growth target.
“Political infighting could cause policy gridlock while Duterte’s unpredictable temperament could upset existing trade relations with major economic partners like the US and the EU,” BMI stated.
Peace talks with Reds suspended
While President Duterte offered to talk peace with local terrorists, he suspended negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines / National Democratic Front. The peace talks in Oslo, Norway was ordered suspended by the President because the CPP/NDF armed wing, the New People’s Army, continues to wage war against government troops.
Luis Jalandoni, a ranking official of the communist group in exile in The Netherlands, defended the NPA’s continued attacks on government troops. He also cited continued military operations against the dissidents.
The government is fighting a war on several fronts. Even as it battles the ISIS-aligned Maute group, our soldiers are also ambushed by NPA rebels. This, even as the government has temporarily kept at bay the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Nur Misuari’s Moro National Liberation Front. The situation could become serious if both the MILF and the MNLF join the Maute-ISIS group in fighting for a breakaway independent state in Mindanao. A difference in ideology with ISIS is forestalling that move for a unified rebellion.