Is DU30 a reluctant president?
In an earlier column, I had argued that there is an 80 percent probability that DU30 will change his rhetoric for the better as he gets to grasp that the milieu and venue of national and international politics is different from local politics or a get together among friends and followers. This "linguistic accommodation" was evident in his formal speeches in Brunei and in China, where he even read most of the speeches written by his speech writers. It was when he deviated from the written speech that got him in trouble, when he attacked again the US. Then, he announced that the Philippines would be severing ties with the US and the Western democracies and would align with China and Russia-the three of countries against the world. His attack on Western nations was actually milder, but the content and sentiment were explosive in its implications and in its impact on the Filipinos all over the world and to the Western countries' governments and people. I was correct in predicting a better and milder DU30 rhetoric but I was wrong in not anticipating his ideology and personal sentiment against the Americans. It appears that he has a long standing anger against the Spaniards and the Americans, and this will be harder to change.
Even as DU30 is now enjoying the power and perks of the presidency, like the travels, the press coverage, the guaranteed audience, and the support of his followers, DU30 is subconsciously undermining his ability to govern and succeed, with his irrational utterances and actions. I am quite sure his cabinet members and his advisers have been briefing and explaining to him the international and foreign relations issues and their impact on the Philippine economy (although some of the cabinet members have openly stated that he does not really consult them), still he has made statements and actions that may cause severe negative consequences for the country. Either he cannot help himself due to his own deep seated ideas and ingrained sentiment or he feels the burden of the presidency is too much and he is better off without it. In fact, he had said it many times that he was a reluctant candidate, that's why it took him some time to decide to run. He has also said it many times that he does not mind not finishing his term and will turn it over to the vice president or to the head of the parliament when the shift to a federal parliamentary is done.
Aside from the latest fiasco on severing from the Western democracies that will really erode his political capital to govern-in view of the high trust ratings of the Americans by Filipinos-is his over concentration on the drug problem and the adjunct extra judicial killings. His dictatorial tendencies like condemning his enemies without due process and his favoring the Marcoses will further alienate those that have experienced the Martial Law years. Instead of adding to his constituency and supporters, every unnecessary mistake by DU30 commits will slowly but surely diminish his popularity and make it difficult to get a strong consensus and achieve the 11-point agenda. In fact, the foreign relations fiasco and the over concentration on the drug war have relegated some pressing actions needed for the other agenda items, like the tax and other fiscal issues, poverty alleviation, and bureaucratic streamlining.
The presidency is a difficult and demanding job, and more so in a developing country like the Philippines. It is a 24/7 job that requires tremendous intellectual and emotional capability. It entails a lot of sacrifices in personal, family, and other social relations of time and other resources. The totality of the president's moral and ethical values are always on display and are scrutinized. All motives analyzed. On a purely quantifiable "cost and benefit analysis," becoming president is a losing proposition. The only possible reason why some people want to be president would be the purely altruistic motive of wanting to serve the people, country, and God. Or the ulterior motives of wealth and power, which are not really compelling since these are passing fancies that will last only a lifetime. So I can understand when DU30 says that he did not hanker for the job, and he would not mind if God takes away from him. I really believe that DU30 is a reluctant president and he is subconsciously undermining his presidency. He probably would have been happier as mayor of Davao City or if he had lost the election.
After actress Agot Isidro called DU30 psychotic, there have been comments in social media regarding the psychological health of our president. Not claiming to be psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist, while DU30 may have some "anger management" problems, psychotic is surely not the right term. I would like you to re-watch the movie, "A Few Good Men", starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson, to get an idea of the frame of mind of people in power.
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Just this Sunday, I heard two bothersome incidents about the US Customs giving Filipino travelers a hard time. One is about a Filipina lady arriving in New York who was singled out and given a full search and told that she will be on close watch because she was Filipino. The other incident was in Hawaii when all Filipino passengers were asked about the amount of foreign currencies that they were bringing. Then of course the news report that the BPO Association is asking an audience with DU30 as the recent events have put a number of BPO investments on hold. While these are still anecdotal evidence, I believe it is time for DU30 and his cabinet to get their act together on the foreign relations issue.
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