Listing the homework of President Rodrigo Duterte

In one’s journey of life from childhood to adulthood, one is obliged to fulfill assignments. The heaviest and burdensome assignment belongs to the “father of the nation” – the President.

Filipinos expect their father to fulfill his weighty obligations. President Rodrigo Duterte at 72 has just concluded the first of the six-year presidential term. His claim to be a “probinsyano,” a native of Davao, coupled with outrageous behavior has earned him several monikers like “Du30, Dirty Rody, the “Punisher,” etc.

Generally, he’s a puzzle to many specially regarding his diplomatic deviations from long time allies and his confused statement regarding the South China Sea dispute.

Is a puzzlement . . .

Like the ancient Thai King Rama IV or King Mongkut, popularized in the Broadway musical “The King and I” with Yul Brynner, President Duterte must be singing to himself, “There are times I almost think, I am not sure of what I absolutely know. Very often find confusion in conclusion, I concluded long ago. In my head are many facts that as a student, I have studied to procure, in my head are many facts of which I wish I was more certain I was sure! . . . “

The traveling ‘Statesman’

As soon as he was elected President Duterte went country hopping with his protégés in the Cabinet. He’s just starting his presidency. Why so frequent, alarming many about numerous national problems unsolved, while they junket. 

Philippine STAR columnist Ichu Villanueva wrote a detailed travel itinerary: “By September last year President Duterte made state visits one after the other starting with Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam. In October he made state visits to China and Japan then flew to Brunei Darussalam. By November he undertook long haul flight to Peru where he attended his first Asia-Pacific Economic Leader Summit and visited Malaysia and Thailand as well. In December state visits were made to Cambodia and Singapore. During the Holy Week in April when the Philippines went on retreat to fulfill the Easter spiritual devotions, the President visited three Middle East countries.

“By May he hosted the 50th anniversary APEC Summit of the 10 ASEAN countries in Manila. Right after Du30 left for the World Economic Forum in Cambodia. The theme of WEF, a non-profit foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland is Youth Technology and Growth.” Seems more fitting to send DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones there.

 I wonder why Ms. Villanueva thinks that his travels have demonstrated the mark of “statesmanship.” The difference between a politician and a statesman is that the former is a professional in politics, office seeker, incumbent public servant. Statesman is more laudatory suggesting eminent ability, foresight and patriotic devotion of a person dealing with important affairs of state.

The important affairs of state in the Philippines

Daily front-page photos of dead bodies in shanties everywhere frightening us  are attributed to drug addiction.

The brutal abuse of anti-crime campaign by the National Police and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is shocking. Motorcycle rider John dela Riarte was punched and arrested by a group of HPG and MMDA traffic aids in a traffic accident. Moments later he was shot dead inside a police car. Sir, what have you done to make the public feel safe?

The President’s promise of undergoing a “metamorphosis” is not apparent.

STAR columnist Amy Pamintuan writes the three important changes urgently needed in his work ethics: READ PREPARED SPEECHES so as to confine his extemporaneous remarks, profanities and ejaculations of political incorrectness.  

CONSULT THE CABINET on matters of grave national importance to avoid shooting his mouth off and then leave them to clean up the mess. 

Our international credibility is at stake. REMAIN LEVEL-HEADED AND RATIONAL IN HIS REMARKS.

If his incoherent foreign policy continues we will soon become the laughingstock of the world.

He should be encouraging Filipino expats to become global citizens, to compete with the best in the world.

Can Duterte accomplish the Global Agenda 30 for Sustainability?

There are serious factors that prevent the Philippines from meeting Global Agenda 30 Sustainability, the extension of the UNMDG 2000-2015 by replacing dole-outs with occupational skills to acquire economic independence.

What about Metro Manila’s traffic mess that has ruined all businesses?

The helplessness of rice farmers suffering from mounting importation of rice from Vietnam and Thailand? 

Manila Times columnist Francisco Tatad has exposed an alarming news “Duterte is in earnest to turn the Philippines into a socialist state with the help of former classmates, dormitory roommates, fraternity brothers and political allies. Nine of whom are members of the Cabinet and are official members of the CPP. Where Marcos waged a revolution to turn back the communist movement, Duterte seems determined to lead a socialist revolution with Cabinet secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr.

“The organizing document is the Kilusang Pagbabago (Movement for Change), the mass indoctrination movement being organized at barangay level throughout the Philippines. The postponement of the barangay elections until next year will allow Duterte to appoint all the CPP/NPA/NDF barangay officials who will form the base of the Kilusan.”

Duterte: Am I right when I believe i may be wrong?

At this point when the whole nation is perplexed with the government indecision to get things done, President Duterte seems to sing with Thai King Rama IV, “When my father was a king, he was a king who knew exactly what he knew, and his brain was not a thing forever swinging to and fro and fro and to. Shall I, then be like my father and be willfully unmovable and strong? Or is it better to be right? …. Or am I right when I believe I may be wrong?”