Admirers and critics of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte are resigned to the idea that the incoming president will be rather unpredictable as far as his protocols and management style are concerned. In fact, “unpredictable” is an imprecise term. Suffice it to say that everyone monitoring Duterte for the next four weeks before his inauguration should expect the unexpected. Past events suggest it.
Duterte did not show up at his proclamation in Congress last week. Congress proclaimed him anyway because the Constitution does not require the president-elect to be physically present during his proclamation by Congress.
Unless the latest plans are changed, Duterte’s oath-taking will take place not at the usual site —the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta—but at Malacañang. The Constitution does not state that the presidential inaugural must be held at a particular place.
Duterte also announced that he will wear ordinary clothes, and not the traditional barong, on his inaugural.
Unlike other candidates, Duterte always bowed to his audience before and after delivering a speech during the campaign. By bowing to the people, Duterte acknowledges what the Constitution provides—that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them. Past presidents only nodded at their audiences.
Because Duterte promised to end the drug menace within the first six months of his presidency, his critics tag him as the “inspiration” for the recent elimination of three drug traffickers in Bohol in a shoot-out with the local police. There is nothing illegal about “inspiring” law enforcers into fulfilling their crime-fighting duties in the first place.
In all likelihood, the policemen who killed those drug traffickers were trying to look efficient in the eyes of Duterte. They probably wanted to impress Duterte so that they will not be fired for incompetence once he assumes office.
Nowadays, many government officials trying to look efficient, likewise in the hope of retaining their jobs. Just recently, airport authorities came out with a rare newspaper advertisement explaining how refunds can be obtained. Also, extortion at the airport departure area has stopped, unlike months ago when bullets were surprisingly “found” inside the baggages of elderly passengers.
Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines are not happy with a Duterte presidency.
Months before election day, organizations bearing ties with the Church were openly campaigning against Duterte. When pressed for an explanation, the frequent answer given is that Duterte said unkind words about Pope Francis last year. Good heavens! Duterte has already publicly apologized for those remarks. Isn’t forgiveness of sins a cornerstone of the Catholic faith?
It’s no secret that the Church leaders long for the return of their political influence over the government, much like what happened when Cory Aquino was president. Cory often deferred to Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who made no effort to hide his ascendancy over the president. Church leaders see another Cory they can influence in Robredo, which explains their belated support for Robredo and their public disdain for Duterte.
An exasperated Duterte called Church leaders hypocrites and opportunists. That remark, no matter how abrasive it may be, is protected under the Constitution, even if it emanates from the president himself. There is nothing in the Constitution which prohibits the president from exercising his right to express his views, even if those views do not sit well with officials of an organized religion.
Actually, there is truth to what Duterte said about leaders of the Church.
More than a year ago, an outspoken tourist guide operating in Intramuros created a stir when he entered a church and disrupted an on-going meeting of clergymen. More specifically, he held up a sign bearing the name “Padre Damaso,” the evil priest in the novel Noli Me Tangere written by our national hero, Jose Rizal. In doing so, the tourist guide equated the current clergy with the nefarious ones who held political power during Rizal’s time.
Church leaders filed a criminal complaint against the tourist guide. Eventually, the complaint became a criminal case docketed in the Regional Trial Court of Manila. What happened to the forgiveness of sins preached by the same church leaders to the faithful?
The issue got embarrassing when the Vatican confirmed Pope Francis’ papal visit to Manila. Days prior to the papal arrival, Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle announced on television that the church had already forgiven the tourist guide, and it was the government, in the name of the people of the Philippines, which filed the criminal case against the tourist guide. What hogwash! Everyone who knows the law knows that the complaint against the tourist guide would not have developed into a full-blown criminal case if the church leaders did not actively pursue it.
Church leaders are supposed to lead modest lives. Look at the vehicles used by church leaders today. They ride in late model luxury vehicles accompanied by security personnel riding also in expensive vehicles.
Back in 2013, the Church openly campaigned against certain senatorial candidates who supported the reproductive health law enacted by Congress. What happened to the constitutionally-mandated separation of Church and State?
When this column criticized Church leaders more than a year ago, a reader assumed that this writer is not a Catholic. Huh? Catholics are not supposed to criticize Church leaders?
A number of women’s groups are up in arms against Duterte as well. They score Duterte for his remarks about rape during his campaign, and for his whistling during a recent press conference in Davao City. While Duterte tacitly acknowledged the importance of women’s rights, he denied that he intentionally disrespected women.
Duterte maintains that what he has been doing so far is protected under the free expression clause of the Constitution. If that is so, and in the absence of precedents, the issue between Duterte and women’s groups remains a stalemate, and this means more surprises can be expected in the foreseeable future.
