No president of our country has made himself as puzzling, enigmatic, exasperating and controversial as Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
In just a little over three years, Duterte has discarded a number of established protocols, ignored conventional wisdom, turned some fundamental principles into mere shibboleths, and even committed sacrilege by making fun of some of our people’s sacred beliefs.
Some of his decisions have shocked and bewildered even his advisers. His statements on women sound misogynistic. Some leaders of the Church are not amused at his irreverence.
Why President Duterte continues to enjoy a high acceptance and performance rating despite his outrageous decisions and scurrilous statements has puzzled observers of the Philippine scene.
The reasons are obvious but are being glossed over.
President Duterte is admired by and is endearing to many people because he is like them in many respects. Like him, they have their foibles, idiosyncrasies and bad habits. Some are as mischievous, loquacious and irreverent as he is. Like Digong, they also have fantasies and quirks.
Like the President, most people do not want to be criticized or crossed. They also resent being upbraided or shamed. Like him, they can be harsh and vindictive in dealing with their critics. like Digong, they use cuss words and barbed diatribes for being short of metaphors and adjectives.
Like Digong, they are partial to boyhood friends and classmates.
Like most men, Digong loves women but hates those who think highly of themselves and act as if they are smarter than he is.
Yes, Digong is likable because he is the same as almost everybody else. He is as simple and as common as any ordinary citizen.
What makes Digong different is that he has the audacity to stand figuratively naked in public. He admits his limitations, shenanigans, fantasies and hallucinations. Many people will admit that they have the same limitations and quirks but they would never admit or make them public. Most people are hypocrites: They keep secret their demons and skeletons in their closets, so they applaud Digong for revealing his.
They agree and silently support Digong’s uncompromising war against corruption and the drug menace.
Yet, they also are aghast, disgusted, and outraged over the abuses of those implementing the president’s orders. The also cringe every time Digong comes out with unspeakable expletives. But they do not speak out their sentiments. They simply keep secret their misgivings even as they feel ashamed of their implicit tolerance and cowardice.
The harsh and pointed criticisms heaped on the President have hardly dented his popularity and acceptance rating because most people do not agree with what are said or written about him. Many dismiss the criticisms as sour grapes.
There is no secret formula for the President’s immense popularity. He simply says what the masses want him to say and does whatever they want him to do. If he made mistakes or failed to deliver, they can’t blame him. They can blame only themselves.
But how far and how effectively has President Duterte captured the imagination and admiration of many of our people? By making himself visible and always heard. He has become a pure product of media hype.
There is no day that he is not in the headlines. His name appears many times in the front and inside pages of all newspapers. His name is mentioned in newscasts on radio stations and his scowling image is seen on television screens throughout the day and far into the wee hours.
But who should get the credit for this outstandingly successful media hype for a sitting president who. after three years, still feels uncomfortable in the presidential chair and who publicly admits failure in his war against corruption and the drug menace?
President Duterte himself. He created his own image of himself. No one among his media advisers deserve credit for his unprecedented popularity. He has been changing his media handlers because none was able to blunt the criticisms against him. They didn’t know what to say or do because he did not bother to tell them what to do or say anyway. They often just describe what they thought was what the President was thinking.
President Duterte has been his own media adviser and handler. That’s why he remains misunderstood, exasperating, frustrating, controversial and a puzzlement. Nicolo Machiavelli can learn many tricks from him.
From the time he won the presidency, he has made himself the unchallenged leader of the country. He installed himself high above everyone else. He doesn’t even want anyone to be too close or taller than he is.
Right after winning the presidency, he dispensed with all traditional civility and protocol to assert and establish his political dominance and ascendancy. He was not present in his own proclamation.
He holed himself up in his house and forced his supporters, well-wishers, and favor-seekers to make a pilgrimage to Davao City to pay homage to the new political kingpin.
From then on, he did what he wanted to do and said what he wanted to say and didn’t give a damn—whatever the consequences, whatever others may say.
Disdainful, vindictive, and at times arrogant, Digong denigrated the vice president, ousted the chief justice, jailed a female senator, distanced himself from a Senate president and did not lift a finger to save a House speaker.
How are we now under Duterte?
How President Duterte will steer the ship of state in the next three years will be crucial and critical. His immense popularity is a valuable political capital which will prop up his regime up to the end of his term. It can even be inherited by whomever he chooses to succeed him.
Digong has already paid his debts to those who bankrolled his campaign. We can expect him to be more aggressive and decisive. He will endeavor to leave a lasting legacy in public service, hopefully more outstanding and lasting than those who preceded him.
Most of our former presidents failed to promote the progress of our country because they had no sincere love for our people and nor a deep concern for their welfare.
Digong promised to deliver what his predecessors failed to fulfill. They believed him because he sounded more sincere and different. He identified himself with the people and shared with their frustrations and anger. He made himself a maverick, ready to lead the people in a war against privilege and the establishment.
With the still-strong and continuing support of most of our people, he can make a big difference.
Many people are proud of Digong for being a simple and common man who became president with modest credentials and limited knowledge in running the affairs of the biggest corporation owned by over 100-million citizens.
They believe that if only he will be less irreverent, less vindictive, and a bit more civil and forgiving, Rodrigo Roa Duterte can become a great president.