Surprise surprise. FPRRD meets XI

It is the nature of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte not to attract attention. If he can have his way, he would move around as unobtrusively as he can. But having stepped down at the end of his term close to the peak of his popularity, it will be difficult to miss him. He gets instantly mobbed the moment he gets recognized.

Still the beloved elderly leader managed to give most everyone the slip. A few days ago he was seen at the airport but it was not clear where he was headed. It was assumed he must have missed Manila and had come for a beer or two. A respectful public had been willing to give space to one who loves the privacy of a common man.

As it turned out, FPRRD literally hied off to China and as photographs show had a dialogue with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This naturally sent tongues wagging and conspiracy theories flying. It is no secret FPRRD has a fondness for the only leader willing to give him the respect, if not for his person, at least for his office.

It is for this reason that FPRRD holds a particular affinity for Xi who, on the matter of holding him in regard, is the direct opposite of former US president Barack Obama who publicly treated him like a monkey. FPRRD could never forget how, on his coming out party at an ASEAN Summit, Obama publicly scolded him on his war on illegal drugs.

Like normal leaders do, if one disagreed with something another did, especially one from a country one shares special ties with, he would call up that leader and they talk in private. You do not go ballistic in public, over media, especially if you are just a guest to the same party that leader is going. It is bad manners to scold him in front of his peers.

If FPRRD had any prior issues with America, his humiliation by Obama drove him over the edge, and as fate would have it, right into the arms of China, the main rival of the US, in this part of Asia. Of course China and the Philippines have a testy relationship over conflicting claims in the South China Sea.

But at least with Xi, FPRRD found a leader he can talk honestly with, one who does not try to fool him. Such is the foundation of respect that can be crucial when things get rough. I can remember FPRRD once telling Xi that sometime in his presidency, he might have to assert the Philippine claim, to which Xi, matter-of-factly replied: "Then we will go to war."

Always pragmatic and direct to the point, it was from that exchange that FPRRD anchored much of his South China Sea policy. Among all Philippine political leaders, it was only he who fully understood the geopolitical dynamics of the area and acted accordingly, a position widely misunderstood and for which he was accused of a sellout.

On hindsight, FPRRD was correct in most of his decisions, controversial though they may be. That is why the US, working behind the scenes, has never stopped trying to nail him on one bogus rap or another. Commanding real respect from Filipinos, the US finds FPRRD a tough one to have hanging around as it tries to draw the Philippines ever closer.

And so what a big heart-stopper it might have been to see FPRRD together with Xi in China in what could not just be a friendly visit. The fact that China released official photos of the meeting proves that it was something of real significance and had bearing. So, as my dear friend and late colleague Abe Licayan used to joke: "Let us to see!"