President Rodrigo Duterte says it was he who personally ordered the investigation of a 71-year-old Australian nun for disorderly conduct.
Sister Patricia Fox was arrested Monday by the Bureau of Immigration for supposedly attending protest rallies and engaging in political activities and anti-government demonstrations. She reportedly took part in protests staged by farmers.
She was released the following day.
The Palace spokesman, Harry Roque, earlier announced that apologies were in order because the bureau committed a gaffe in arresting the nun, even as he emphasized there was a law saying foreigners must not interfere with local politics.
We wonder what the bureau’s gaffe could have been, now that Mr. Duterte has taken full responsibility for what happened to the nun?
“You insult me under the cloak of being a Catholic [priest], and you are a foreigner! Who are you? It is a violation of sovereignty,” the President said.
We get how Mr. Duterte can feel strongly about being criticized by those who are not even Filipinos, right within our shores. Time and again he has shown he will not be cowed by anybody. This quality endears him to many and might be responsible for the high ratings he still enjoys.
A 71-year-old woman, however, is an unfortunate target for his ire. The President could always claim the arrest was his idea, but it is apparent he was ill-advised—at the very least on how the incident would look even to those who look up to him.
Strong leaders are praised for being undeterred in the face of adversity. But there are other terms reserved for people who prey on those weaker than they are.
