Change has come

She should be thankful she wasn’t hurt. This was the statement made by the chief of the Presidential Security Group, Brig. Gen. Lope Dagoy. Does it mean the PSG guard had authority and permission to hurt the reporter, but didn’t? What did the Rappler reporter do to deserve being hurt by a trained soldier? Was the PSG guard threatened or physically hurt? All Pia Ranada did was to ask why she was being barred from entering the Palace when she was a member of the Malacañang Press Corp. how is putting a microphone towards a person’s mouth is insulting to the PSG? How should a microphone be used then, if not to put it near a person’s mouth and get what he is saying? And what kind of soldier would attack an unarmed woman?

Is it really a good time to be a woman nowadays? Aside from all the “jokes” where women are belittled and disparaged, seen as mere playthings of men, this is what we should hear from the PSG chief. Actually those close to the president are the same way. They are all cursing, threatening, kill this, kill that, joking about rape as if it were funny to become a victim. Virgins are offered to willing entrepreneurs. Female insurgents are to be shot in their private parts to render them “useless.” And now there are those who blame rape victims for not understanding the ‘boys-will-be-boys’ attitude. That’s how it is today. Everyone can threaten, curse, become misogynists because it is popular. Because they follow the lead of the president.

It is good to know that there are still people like DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. He called out the PSG chief’s remarks as “uncalled for” and “off the mark” saying that whatever Rappler’s offense, they had no right to harm nor threaten them. That is coming from a former soldier, a soldier from a more respectful breed and time. I did wish to hear more from him at the Senate hearing on the controversial frigate and combat management systems deal, as I felt he held back some details, some important information.

But is someone now fuming about his statements regarding the PSG chief? Could there be someone whispering into the president’s ear regarding Lorenzana’s calling out of the person that heads the soldiers guarding him? Are we suddenly going to see an exposure of Secretary Lorenzana’s trips abroad? Accusations of corruption? Because I’m sure Brig. Gen. Dagoy would not be reprimanded in any way. In fact, he is unapologetic regarding his remarks, insisting that the reporter should do the apologizing. Seems the military and the police are now entitled.

I must say I truly miss the times when public officials carried themselves in a more decent manner, when officials that cursed or threaten were anathema in public discourse. And when women were not treated or talked about in the manner prevalent today. Change has come.