Today is the start of the much trumpeted change that Filipinos have been anxiously anticipating. In fact, even at the inauguration of the new leaders of our country yesterday, particularly the incoming President and Vice President, people have already seen a very evident change. The new President Rodrigo R. Duterte took his oath of office separately from Vice President Maria Leonora G. Robredo. He did not even invite VP Robredo to his inauguration and subsequent festivities to celebrate his assumption into office. So Robredo had to take her oath of office and celebrate her inauguration as the new Vice President in another place and time. Breaking this tradition fostering unity after a hard fought election obviously creates division and disunity in our country. This is the first noticeable change that is quite disturbing.
Besides, by such stance, the public perception is that Duterte is not recognizing Robredo as the duly elected Vice President of the Philippines despite her official proclamation by Congress acting as the National Board of Canvassers. He seems to ignore the democratic process that if the election of a public official is questionable, protest should be filed at the proper tribunal to resolve the issue. Even if he has different political affiliations and beliefs, he should not jump the gun on the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) which is the sole authority on this matter. The impression created here is that he is even pressuring the PET to decide according to his belief.
The worst part here is that he has even invited Bongbong Marcos, one of the candidates for Vice President defeated by Robredo, to his inauguration yesterday. Marcos has repeatedly bombarded the print and cyber space with allegations that Robredo’s election is fraudulent, and that he will file an election protest as he did file on the last minute. Inviting Marcos and failing or refusing to invite Robredo at his inauguration inevitably creates the impression that he is siding with Marcos in his electoral protest. As leader of the country, he should already avoid such kind of partisan political acts as they will just all the more sow disunity and division.
Incidentally, in connection with his election protest, Marcos should already stop all the media hype about the massive fraud committed in the last election. Official results show that he lost and he cannot and should not change such results by means of press releases. This is trial by publicity. If he has ample and credible evidence he should not announce them in the media but present them before the PET which is the proper and only venue for authoritative resolution of his complaint. His stance is just arousing people who have easily forgotten the past especially the young and ignorant ones who are not aware that this indelible taint in our elections started when his father tried to retain power during the snap elections in February 1986.
Another noticeable change that appeared during Duterte’s inauguration is the exclusion of the general public. Traditionally, the oath taking of a new President is held in a public place like the Luneta Grandstand where a large number of people can congregate and celebrate the turnover ceremonies. But this time, the oath-taking of the new President was held within the exclusive enclaves of Malacanang Palace where only about 600 people were invited. The common tao and the mass of people who believe that Duterte is the person who can bring about the changes in our government they have been longing for, and who was present at the massive rallies in various parts of our country during the election campaign, were nowhere in sight at the Palace. Only dignitaries and the well heeled people are very conspicuous in Malacanang. So far this is the most exclusive swearing-in ceremony of a President of our country. I wonder what the millions of diehard Dutertetards are now feeling. How are they taking such a rude snub?
Another noticeable change occurring even before Duterte’s inauguration is on the relation between the Press and the Prez. Right after the elections on May 9, 2016, media and the then presumptive president were still quite friendly with each other. But as in any relationship, familiarity breeds contempt. And so as the days pass, this relationship started souring. At this stage, there seems to be a silent treatment between the two. After giving a number of media interviews in Davao when Rody’s rudeness and trash talks became apparent, Duterte announced that there will be no more live interviews by media for the rest of his term. In fact media was even barred from conducting a live coverage of his inauguration. The romance between the Press and the Prez has obviously turned into disillusionment and distrust.
The soured relationship between the Prez and the Press has given rise to a possible change that Duterte himself promised. When he was freely giving interviews after winning the elections, people started witnessing and hearing his rudeness and “kanto boy” appearance which is apparently why he has mass appeal. He readily curses people with expletives especially against his critics and those he perceived as his enemies. This very un-presidential attitude prompted him to promise that right after assuming the Presidency, he will stop being rude. He asked the public then to let him enjoy his rudeness while he has not yet assumed office. But once he is already in Malacanang, he promised that will already behave and act like a President. This change is noticeable already in his inaugural speech. But people are still anticipating his metamorphoses in other aspects especially his antagonism against the Church and some priests.
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