EDITORIAL - Uncertainty

Americans aren’t the only ones expressing concern these days over the uncertainty generated by remarks recklessly tossed around by President Duterte. In several foreign capitals and boardrooms, and even in several business offices in the Philippines, questions are increasingly being raised about the stability of the political and economic environment in the country.

Four months into a new administration is too short for uncertainty to set it. Yet this is what’s happening, and it’s threatening to reverse the sustained positive economic developments in recent years.

The uncertainty is unnecessary. A new administration traditionally enjoys an enormous amount of goodwill both domestically and overseas. The goodwill is heightened when the new administration comes to power by a landslide win.

Following his victory and upon assuming office, President Duterte made all the right noises about the roadmap to his promised “real change.” He promptly revived peace negotiations with communist and Islamic rebels. He told government agencies to cut the processing time for public documents to no more than three days. This was in line with the 10-point socioeconomic agenda that he unveiled and was warmly received by the nation.

These are worthy pursuits, and the President can count on a “super majority” in Congress to support his reform agenda. Yet the nation is currently bogged down in confusing realignments and a foreign policy in shambles. The free world is watching aghast as the death toll in a vicious drug war climbs to nearly 4,000 in just four months. Such slaughter can be expected in war-torn Syria or Afghanistan, but not in Asia’s bastion of democracy and the Roman Catholic faith.

The administration cannot expect free societies to look the other way in the face of this culture of death. And the administration cannot turn its back or declare war on any member of the international community that dares to express legitimate concern about it.

It’s not yet too late for the new administration to improve its engagement with the world, while at the same time returning to the priorities outlined by President Duterte when he took over the nation’s reins. It’s still early enough to put this administration on reset.