Duterte faces acid test amidst ouster calls

Roman Catholic bishops headed for a virtual clash with President Rodrigo Duterte, who faced destabilization attempts by political opponents, and who risked losing his grip on power, analysts in this central Philippine city said, amid mounting nationwide pressure for his resignation.

Across vicariates in the national capital Manila, and key cities in the Visayas and the southern third of the archipelago, parishioners led by bishops held meetings, clamoring for the president to step down and appealing for unity in this largely Roman Catholic nation.

But Duterte, who criticized the “god” of Catholics as a “stupid god,” showed no signs of leaving Malacañang Palace soon, other than saying he will probably step down in 2019 and make way for a “younger successor.”

The frenzy for his departure gained crescendo after he criticized the “god of Roman Catholics” in June and the spate of killings of priests, town and village politicians, and drug lords took center stage.

Three priests, two local mayors, and two vice mayors have been gunned down and killed by unknown assassins in the last six months. Murder attacks carried out on suspected meth drug traders and rogue policemen have risen to fevered pitch, which left 726 dead nationwide, during the same period.

Police success at preventing a depressed man from attacking Archbishop Jose Palma in Cebu played down into the scenario that “certain forces are at work to attack more clergymen, foment nationwide violence, and bring down the government,” said state security officials who spoke on condition they were not identified.

Law enforcement officers suspected of involvement in the proliferation of meth drugs, also called “poor man’s cocaine,” were among the victims in a killing pattern that analysts describe as an “alarming prelude to upheaval,” according to a brief from the National Intelligence Coordinating Authority.

Pollsters report an 11 percent drop in the president’s approval and satisfaction ratings, now down to 45 since April 2018, by far the lowest in eight surveys since 2016. His score card showed a slip to 56 from 58 in December 2017.

But the combative and confident president remained unfazed. “I don’t care, it does not interest me at all,” Duterte told a news conference north of Manila, referring to the drop in his ratings.  As this largely Roman Catholic nation come to terms with the violent attacks, critics of the president claim that his “parochial thinking” has hindered his ability to establish balance in his pronouncements as top leader of the land.

A stern sub-metropolitan politician, he has been used to running a secondary city like Davao, where he lorded over 18 years, without serious opposition.

“We want him to apologize for his remarks,” say priests, nuns, and bishops in a statement criticizing the president amid claims that he has been losing himself in the path of arrogance and abuse of power.

The country’s top Catholic prelates, Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila and Archbishop Romulo Valles, were to meet Duterte this week to discuss the president’s verbal tirades on priests. (To be concluded)

Abbey B. Canturias

Philippine Institute of Applied Politics