This is the question on everybody’s mind these days.
With President Duterte saying one thing and saying yet another, and with the people around him stumbling all over the place to put his words “in the proper perspective,” I can only guess what he would get the country into next time.
We already had a taste of the President’s rhetoric when he lambasted United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States President Barack Obama. Lately, he also cursed the European Union.
My gulay, Duterte has spooked investors enough that the peso has depreciated further even as his lackeys attribute this to the rising value of the American dollar.
Above everything else, his statement about “crossing the Rubicon” has compelled Foreign Secretary Jun Yasay to brand it all as drama. Yasay has just arrived from New York where he told the UN not to interfere with Duerte’s war on illegal drugs, since it’s a domestic concern.
Can anybody predict at all what the President will say next?
I think President Duterte should minimize his public appearances, especially because he has the tendency to ramble. It’s a no-no because the more you talk, the more you increase the possibility of committing a mistake.
This is also why he has officials like Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to speak for him. Let them earn their pay!
Media are now feasting on speculation.
I repeat: the President should only speak on matters of national policy. Mr. President, let your spokesmen do the talking. It would also give you the privilege of deniability, instead of appearing like taking back what you have said or done.
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The move of the House of Representatives to have the anti-graft law amended by removing the power of the Sandiganbayan to suspended members of Congress investigated for crimes allegedly committed in previous positions smacks of protection of self-interest.
Why should members of Congress be given a special privilege not given to local executives, like governors and mayors, who commit the same offense? Who do these members of Congress think they are—God’s chosen people that they are entitled to special rules?
Why should this measure even be given priority when there are more urgent pieces of legislation that demand attention?
Let’s look at the rationale of preventive suspension. It is supposed to prevent lawmakers, who used to be governors or mayors, from tampering with documents that would pin them down for having committed graft and corruption.
But can a congressman be prevented from tampering with evidence if an incumbent mayor or governor is his ally, friend or family member? Can a member of Congress no longer intimidate and pressure witnesses? That’s a lot of bull.
My gulay, a crime is a crime whatever your past or present position in government is!
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The confiscation of P6 million worth of guns, some of them sophisticated firearms labeled as part of the Armed Forces Arsenal can only validate speculation that military personnel themselves have become gun runners. They sell firearms to the Abu Sayyaf group.
We have always asked where the firearms of the Abu Sayyaf come from—the Middle East? Are they brought here by the ISIS?
Since the confiscated firearms bear the label of AFP arsenal, it’s obvious that some military personnel are involved in gun running. It has also been said that for every kidnap for ransom paid, local Sulu executives and military people gets cuts.
President Duterte, as Commander-in-Chief of AFP and top cop of the PNP, must dig deeper into the matter. This is a national security issue.
Santa Banana, ASG uses these same firearms to kill members of the military. That’s treason for those involved!
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Well, as expected, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez has come out with the audit report suspending no less than 23 mining firms for alleged violations of mining law.
This was expected with Lopez using an anti-mining organization in auditing the mining industry.
Now, the 23 mining firms have to show cause why they should not remain suspended by the DENR.
I have said that under Lopez, the mining industry’s future is bleak. Her aim is to kill an industry worth $360 billion, effectively preventing foreign investors from coming into the country.
President Duterte may have thought that with the appointment of Lopez, he would have the support of the oligarchic Lopez family with its influential network. But at what price?