The Duterte Series: Just (Wido)Do It

     It looks like our Pres. D  is fast becoming Mr. Ambiguity.  Latest incident involves Indonesian President Joko Widodo concerning the case of convicted Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso. According to news reports, Duterte has said to "go ahead" and carry out the execution if Mary Jane is found guilty under the Indonesian judicial process. Our local media has picked up the news after D's statements made headlines in Indonesia. A lot of us were dismayed because during the previous administration extra diplomatic efforts were carried out to save Mary Jane from execution.

      Mary Jane's case grabbed headlines because she insisted that she was duped into carrying 2.6 kilos of heroin into Indonesia in April 2010.  She was sentenced to death in October the same year but was spared via moratorium enacted by then Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.  Her execution was reinstated thereafter with her death by firing squad set April 29 of last year but was granted a stay just minutes away from her execution. The Indonesian government decided to postpone her execution due largely to our government's appeal for reprieve while her case is being reinvestigated and also because of the public outcry the case has elicited across the globe.

Mary Jane Veloso: Living on a prayer

     D's camp is on the clarificatory stage ever since the news broke, saying that the president didn't really give the green light.  And today Widodo has clarified that what D actually told him was to "go ahead with the process in line with the law in Indonesia." But still the fat fact is our president didn't make an appeal to save Mary Jane.   For those who expect him to do otherwise, particularly Mary Jane's family, I'm sure they're disheartened by the news.  I personally didn't expect D to appeal because of his obvious stand against the illegal drug trade and its perpetrators.

Duterte: I didn't say "just do it" to Widodo (Photo source:www.ofwnewsfeed.com)

     Why is D so often misquoted, misinterpreted or misunderstood as his men alway allege whenever the president elicits criticisms for his statements? D blames the media or the people around him but never himself for the negative publicity.  His men always scramble to correct his numerous faux pas, both intentional and otherwise.  Maybe it's not the media who's on the err here as D and his men always like to point out.  I mean, if it only happens once or twice or is being committed by one or two reporters, he can argue that he's just being misquoted/misinterpreted/misunderstood. But it happens almost always.  It happens whenever he opens his mouth, whomever is listening to him.  It's obvious D lacks the communication skills needed for an effective national leader.  Our leader should espouse clarity, never ambiguity,  into which our country is being led to.  You don't say you do not condone extrajudicial killings in one interview then promotes bounty hunting and democide in another.  You don't say you respect human rights then later on adorn suspected criminals with bullet holes and placards.
 

     
   

The Duterte Series: My Pilot Monologue

     Today, I'm starting a series on Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.  Please forgive me, if along the way, I offend some of you because of my strong opinions against our president. This is just my way of blowing off steam when I get frustrated  with the goings-on in Malacanang, particularly the enigmatic man of the manor.

     Let me make it clear that I didn't dislike D at the get-go. In fact, in the last quarter of 2015, when I was randomly surveyed via my mobile number about the possibility of D joining the presidential race I gave a favorable answer for him. I think the question was "Would you like Mayor Duterte to run for president?" and I quickly replied yes.  Days later I was asked "Should Mayor Duterte run for president would you vote for him?".  I answered yes.  I was thinking then  that here's a viable presidential candidate that was a non-trapo. I knew of his no-nonsense attitude, he's known to be fearless and has worked hard for Davao to make it a world - class city. Truly, his reputation preceded him. For me, at that time, D really stood out among the bland choices the electorate were offerred. Kumbaga sa hapag-kainan natin, si D ay kare-kare katabi ang prito at paksiw na isda lang.

     So when D finally, albeit reluctantly, announced his candidacy I was excited.  But as the campaign went on, as his media exposure broadened, my excitement deflated. It was not a sudden "pop", but a gradual death of my excited optimism that ended up with "pfff", a sound of disgust and disappointment.  D has had no platform of governance but he was drawing crowds and cult following through his colorful language and dirty jokes.    I have to admit he made me laugh with his very informal political speeches; he really was an engrossing speaker and downright down-to-earth guy. However,  not long after spewing against the corruption and criminality in the land, there came spilling out the profanities and sexist and insensitive jokes. That's when I decided to part ways with D.

Davao Blast, Duterte's Bluster

     I was up late last night, alternately browsing and drowsing, when all of a sudden my Twitter got flooded by news of the Davao blast. When I turned on ANC, there it was the grim vestiges of another terrorist attack in Davao. Bodies were everywhere; they were bloodied, strewn, and riddled with the fragments of the IED (improvised explosive device).  The blast came just a few hours after Pres. Duterte's early evening presscon.  I caught the last portion of the presscon when Duterte, as usual, was justifying his war on drugs.  He was replying to a question by a foreign journalist apparently about the extralegal killings and violation of human rights allegedly being committed at the behest of the government.  Duterte  was saying the international community should not just rely on the death toll of his anti-drug campaign but they should come here and see for themselves what his government is actually accomplishing. He mentioned his beloved Davao, clearly making the city as the model of how successful his dealings with the criminal elements are. "Don't fuck with me," he once again told the international community and anyone who criticizes his method. He invited the journalist to walk the streets of Davao, and if the journalist got mugged or murdered or "even lost his wallet" Duterte said he will resign as the president.  I hope the journalist didn't heed Duterte's advice to walk the streets to may be ending up in Roxas Night Market where the explosion occurred.

     It is a slap in the face of Duterte that shortly after his pronouncement to the reporter, the blast rocked Davao killing at least 14 and injuring more than 70 innocent people. And for the Davaenos, and the rest of us citizenry, it is a wake up call; that despite our politicians' dictum of them keeping us safe, any one of us could be a collateral damage - whether it's the war on drugs or  the war on terror. I'm sure no amount of words or gestures would appease the hurt of those left behind.

     Morning came and the chaos continued. That is, chaos amongst the president's men. There was confusion if the state of lawless violence so informally announced by Duterte is confined in Davao, or the whole island of Mindanao, or the entire country. Later on it was clarified that is in full effect nationwide.

     I know a lot will take umbrage at my take on our present leadership. But I take offense when someone (whatever his/her standing in our society) talks with so much bravado, with tactless dictates then fails to follow it through with action. I would appreciate it more if it's otherwise - a lot less talk, a lot more action.

     So I would admire our president more if he actually severs tie with the UN and not just threaten it with words. Or much better, he should not have declined Ban Kin- moon's request for meeting so he can tell the UN chief to his face to not meddle in our internal affairs. I would admire our president more if he seeks an audience with the Chinese leaders during the Asean Summit in Laos next week and tell them, to really tell them, that they should abide by the verdict of the arbitration case over the South China Sea. Tell them to be damned with their nine-dash line. That way Duterte doesn't have to jetski all the way to the Spratlys to stake our claim on the islands, as he had blabbered on during his campaign.  Face to face, Duterte can tell his Chinese counterpart to do something about their nationals going to our shores to smuggle in drugs. And by the way, it is not only drugs that Chinese are illegally bringing in with them. They are also smuggling in rice, meat, gadgets and other commodities and we are losing a lot in the form of tariffs because of this. It is reported that the bulk of smuggled goods in the country comes from China, that from 2010-2014 alone they snuck in products amounting  to Php2 trillion according to report by The Manila Times. With these I am hoping that our president is able to say to the Chinese "Don't fuck with my people. And don't fuck with me." But, alas, according to the Palace our president is not going to do bilateral meetings with China in the Asean summit or talk about the issue of the South China Sea thereat.

(Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/87/aa/b4/87aab4a36ae6eddf3b928a0e8102e7ce.jpg)

My Long Hiatus Justified

I'm alive again after so many months of absence in dishing out opinions, whether they're unbiased or otherwise. I blamed Smart and Globe and their lousy Internet service that  I wasn't able to blog for quite some time now. These telcos are robbing us, my God! Whatever happened to the Telstra group? Last I heard their joint venture with San Miguel didn't push through. Well, anyway, now I'm connected via Converge for two weeks and I say it's an improvement. So far. Hopefully, Converge will remain reliable for my sanity's sake. 😂😃😍😉

Astronomical Price for Mayweather-Pacquiao Pay-Per-View

     My initial reaction was: "What?!"

     Our cable provider, Dream Satellite TV, just posted on its website and Facebook page that it's going to  sell the event via pay-per-view for Php 2,500 (regular rate) and, for the early bird promo, you have to shell out Php 2,000.

     Last Pacquiao  PPV bout  courtesy of Dream was on  November 2014 against Algieri,  which was pegged at Php650 with the early bird at Php500. I was expecting that Dream was going to merely double the price at the most for this long overdue superfight. Apparently not.  Now, in my Hamlet mode,  my conscience (and wallet) wrestles: To buy or not to buy? Alas, the slings and arrows of precarious fortune!

And now,  for the love of boxing and of Pacquiao, let's get ready to fumbleeeeee (with our wallets)!

Feces contains gold worth millions?! Holy S*#@!

     I just read this one interesting news and have to share it.

     Experts in the US say that what you, uh, unload onto your toilet seat may be a mother lode of gold and other precious metals. According to a recent study, waste from one million Americans could contain $13M worth of metals. Other than gold these metals include copper, platinum, silver and vanadium. Vanadium is a rare earth metal and is used as additive to other metals, such as steel, to considerably increase their strength.

     The US Geological Survey team are now finding a way (hopefully fast enough) to extract these minerals from biosolids that come out of the country's wastewater facilities.

Human race could be sitting on a potential gold mine (Photo source: http://super-trainer.com/fierce-personal-training-competition)

     To read the entire article, please go to https://sg.news.yahoo.com/feces-contains-gold-worth-millions-015640270.html.

Kris, Noynoy vie for the Tactless Throne

      It seems being tactless is a characteristic quite unique with the Aquino family, whereby their gift of gab tends to run amok. We all know that Kris Aquino is the Tactless Queen of showbiz and her brother - Noynoy the President - well,  he can easily get the crown as the Tactless King of the republic.

The Iron Throne (for the tactless):
Who deserves it better - Kris or Noynoy?
(Photo source: www.gameofthrones.tv)

     Yesterday in Malacanang during Q&A with Christian leaders, the president didn't mince words when asked about the Mamasapano incident particularly towards the alleged man on the helm former SAF (Special action Forces) Chief Getulio Napenas. Talagang hugas kamay to the max si Noynoy!

     "Binola niya ako," Noynoy said referring to Napenas, then more jaws dropped when he called the beleaguered high-ranking police officer as "tatanga-tanga". This coming from the Commander-in-Chief of the land? Clearly, Noynoy doesn't only lack the gumption to assume responsibility to what tragically transpired in Mamasapano, but also the finesse in handling sensitive issues. Remember the Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude case? When asked if he's going to attend the wake of the transgender killed in Subic allegedly by US serviceman Joseph Scott Pemberton, Noynoy answered: "In general, I don't attend wakes of people I don't know."


For Pres. Noynoy's long and self-exonerating narrative on the Mamasapano tragedy, visit http://www.interaksyon.com/article/106569/mamasapano-his-version--pnoy-gives-detailed-account-of-jan--25-mission-as-boi-report-gets-delayed.