Unique style

Once more I cannot help but write about the interesting and uncertain times we are now experiencing under an entirely different kind of President with unique style of governance, The way he talks and the way he runs the government are really quite different from the standard and usual kind of leadership we have previously seen and experienced.

Most noticeable is of course his spur of the moment words and deeds which are not carefully studied and well thought out. Indeed, it is hard to know when he is serious and when he is joking. Invariably, his spokesman has to explain what he means, or defend and give reasons as to why he uttered them especially if they are quite controversial or hazy and confusing.

To be sure however, this unique style of governance may perhaps be the very reason for his popularity and acceptance by the mass of our people that catapulted him to power. Indeed there appears to be some similarities between his style and that of the late Mayor of the City of Manila in the 50’s, Arsenio H. Lacson, then dubbed as “the best president the Philippines never had,” because he died unexpectedly.

Most striking is their hands-on style of governance. During his stint as Mayor of Manila, Lacson used his motorcycle in going to the office and sometimes drove around the streets of Manila alone, or riding in tandem with a motorcycle cop. He spends more time outside the office to find out the real situation in every nook and corner of the City specifically where the poor, or the people belonging to the grassroots usually reside. He wanted to know what was happening in the City and the problem of the people so that he could take the necessary steps to solve them or to remedy their unfavorable situation.

But this is as far as the similarities in their style of governance go. Of course people who observed and experienced Lacson’s way of performing his duties and doing his job as Mayor believed that he was more discreet and careful. He might have been feisty and used “no holds barred tactics” but he controlled his words and deeds, and carefully studied their repercussions and adverse effects on the people and the community.

In the case of Duterte however, there are several occasions when he talks and acts on the spur of the moment without considering the adverse effects and damaging repercussions of what he says and does. The most concrete example here is his policy on our foreign relations with other countries more especially with China. This is shown by his reluctance or inaction to enforce the UN decision declaring that a part of the South China Sea within 200 miles from the Philippine shore belongs to the Philippines pursuant to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Worse here is that he did not object to China’s construction of military bases on those parts of the sea already declared to be within our territory. Then recently Duterte even declared that China and the Philippines co-own the entire South China Sea. 

Then there is also his recent order banning the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to work in Kuwait because of certain incidents of cruelty and killing of some OFWs there. Such ban may indeed have a more adverse effect on the greater number of Filipinos employed in that country who will lose their jobs there and will be deprived of their means of livelihood. Instead of the total ban, steps could have just been taken to ensure the safety our workers in that country such as requesting the Kuwaiti government to prevent and control such abuses and killings. The Kuwaiti government will most likely accede to this request as the country appears to be in dire need of workers.

Also quite unique and noticeable in the present administration is that it appears to be so insecure as if suffering from some kind of persecution complex despite all the powers and resources at its command. It considers criticisms and adverse comments about alleged wrong moves it has committed and actions it has taken which appear to be against the common good, as destabilization moves aimed at ousting him. Such kind of attitude is definitely not good for our country and people not only because it creates division and discord but also because it is an obstacle to the progress and development of our country as well as the promotion of public interest and social welfare of our countrymen.

This insecurity is further manifested in the way the President treats people who are inferior and relatively un-important particularly some journalist like Rappler reporter Pia Ranada. It is really undignified for a President with so much power, to pay too much attention to a mere Malacanang reporter even to the extent of personally barring her from entering the Palace. This kind of treatment even had an opposite effect because it has given Ranada a lot of media exposure and made her more popular.

Then of course people cannot help but notice the President’s dictatorial tendencies. He easily gets mad at those who disagree with him or who oppose him especially those in the government. The best example here is Senator and former Justice Secretary De Lima and Supreme Court Chief Justice Sereno. De Lima is charged with non-bailable offenses and is now in jail while Sereno is facing impeachment by Congress apparently at the prodding of the President.

Maybe at this stage, it would do the President some good if he emulates other leaders of democratic countries who readily accept and look at criticisms as efforts to help them succeed. He may also adopt their practice of having periodic medical examination, both physically and mentally because the Presidents’ health is also a major concern of the people.

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