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Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal diarrhea
The arrogant, foul-mouthed former President Rodrigo Duterte should have zipped his upper hole on his very first day as a private citizen again.
But I guess the lure of public attention in the hope of maintaining relevance just keeps on getting the best of him – if he ever had them. Or perhaps Fentanyl has been having bad days with other patients, so off it goes to one who is on his way to oblivion which is a hefty price to pay just to get out of a state of irrelevance.
So now, like a dog who brags to the rest of the pack about where he buried his bone and being the only one who knows where, he tells publicly about knowing the whereabouts of pastor-turned-impostor-turned-fugitive Apollo Quiboloy aka ‘PACQ.’
The guy on the run is the spiritual adviser of the Dutertes, the same buffoon who claims to be the “appointed son of God” in the flesh today, and he owns our souls for “no one can see the Father unless he passes through me,” or something to that effect. On that note, more than being a son of a god, Duterte is a lawyer, right?
So he should know better than the hoi polloi that such careless utterances like this could get him into trouble. Someone there in Davao should remind him about Article 19 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines which states that “Any person who harbors, conceals, or assists in the escape of the principal of a crime, knowing him to be such, shall suffer the same penalty as the principal. This means that individuals who aid or assist a fugitive from evading arrest or escaping from authorities may be held criminally liable and face the same punishment as the perpetrator of such crime.”
In short, if he knows his whereabouts, it would be best for the former president to publicly call on his spiritual adviser to come out from his hiding and surrender to his arresting officers. From the beginning, when arresting officers went to Quiboloy’s sanctuary to serve a Warrant of Arrest, members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ
(KoJC) stood their ground and blocked the police from carrying out their jobs, not without the injuries of some people from both sides.
Sounds familiar from a past incident where VP Sara Duterte (then mayor of Davao City), prevented a sheriff from doing his job by serving a court order to illegal settlers of a piece of property. She quickly punched the sheriff several times. Shades of thuggery and gangsterism, right?
In the eyes of the public, both father and daughter project themselves as an impediment to the wheels of justice.
-o0o-
On that note, no less than Senator Nancy Binay introduced Senate Bill No. 1346 – “An act granting benefits and privileges to former Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Philippines or their surviving spouses, amending for this purpose Republic Act No. 5059, repealing Republic act No. 2087, and for other purposes.”
Former Presidents and Vice-Presidents continue to perform many of their public responsibilities even upon retirement. As former highest-ranking officers of the land, they have post-presidential and post vice-presidential duties to perform, among which are responding to pot-presidency and post-vice-presidency mail and invitations and attending to speaking engagements.
In cognizance of these social obligations, existing legislations grant former presidents and their widows/widowers certain benefits and privileges. However, the extent and coverage of said measures are not enough to sufficiently respond to the unique position of former high officials in the public sphere even after they leave their post.
This was enacted to discourage them from being forced into activities deemed unsuitable for a former head of state.
And so, when every time former President Rodrigo Duterte utters words from the bitterness of his heart or conducts indignation
rallies because a Marcos is now in Malacañang, he cannot help but bring back the past of how it was during his term and would always throw invectives to someone who is obviously more presidential than him in all aspects.
Senator Binay’s bill should be enough to keep him happy, but no, he still thinks he is the president and it’s simply fine and dandy for him to brag about the whereabouts of his fugitive friend, but would not say where he is.
I guess the ICC will make him humble with his actions if not fumble with his words. Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal diarrhea is so disparate from his daughter Sara’s “No Comment.”
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Random Memorandum: Our country is named after King Philip II of Spain, the instigator and administrator of the dreaded ‘Inquisition’ which took the lives of numerous individuals and countless victims of oppression and colonial cruelty all over the New World. Among his first acts after his coronation was the burning of Andalucia at the stake of thousands of Moors who inhabited the place which was a province of Spain.
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Factoid: Burnay technology reached Vigan via Chinese artisans who came from Zwi-Sao, Chun-chiu province in Mainland China. It existed in the area long before the arrival of the Spaniards in 1572. It was introduced in Vigan by Pedro Go, a Chinese settler from Chingkiang, in Fukien, China circa 1890, and established a ‘camarin’ (jar factory) on Rivero Street in Barangay VIII, Vigan City.
(Leslie Bocobo is a former Special Assistant to the Secretary at the Office of the Press Secretary, Malacañang, and a former Public Affairs Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.)
Email: sleeplessinmyshuttle@yahoo.com
Developing agriculture scientists
One way of achieving food sovereignty in the country, if not now, at least in the future, is to encourage more Filipino students to pursue degrees in agriculture-related fields by raising awareness about the importance and career opportunities in the industry.
The government should provide more generous scholarships and financial assistance to students who are interested in studying agriculture to make it more accessible and attractive.
There should be collaboration between universities and research institutions to develop specialized programs and courses in agriculture science to offer a more comprehensive education in the field.
Creation of partnerships with industry leaders and experts to provide mentorship and hands-on training opportunities for students is a must to gain practical experience in the field.
Filipino capital should invest in research and development in agriculture to attract more students and professionals to the industry and encourage innovation and advancements in the field.
There should be an aggressive promotion of networking and collaboration among
There should be an aggressive promotion of networking and collaboration among agriculture scientists and professionals through conferences, workshops, and other events to foster a supportive and collaborative community.
Establish internships and apprenticeship programs with local farms, agricultural companies, and research institutions to provide students with hands-on experience and exposure to real-world challenges and solutions in agriculture.
Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration by integrating agriculture science into other related fields such as environmental science, biology, engineering, and business to provide a holistic approach to addressing agricultural challenges.
Let’s organize career fairs, job fairs, and networking events specifically for agriculture students and professionals to connect them with potential employers and opportunities in the industry.
Institutions such as Landbank should
support the development of agricultur
l entrepreneurship by providing resources an
training for students interested in starting
their own agricultural businesses or ventures.
Furthermore, the Filipino agriculture industry players and the government should collaborate with international organizations, universities, and experts to bring in global perspectives, knowledge, and best practices in agriculture science to enrich the education and training of Filipino agriculture scientists.
In conclusion, developing more agriculture scientists in the Philippines requires a multifaceted approach that involves raising awareness, providing education and training opportunities, fostering collaboration and innovation, and supporting the growth and development of the industry. By investing in the education and training of future agriculture professionals, promoting research and innovation, and creating a supportive and collaborative environment, the Philippines can cultivate a strong and skilled workforce of agriculture scientists who can contribute to the sustainable growth and success of the agricultural sector in the country.
(Edwin M. Cordevilla is a multi-awarded writer, poet and author of several books. He is a former undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office. You may send your comments at edcordevilla@gmail.com.)
The Philippines
Is Already
on the U.S.’s Menu, Who’s Next?
In the labyrinth of international politics, the line between reality and illusion is often blurred. The recent revelation by Reuters on June 14 that the Pentagon orchestrated a secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China during the COVID pandemic is the latest example.
Words can kill
“We didn’t do a good job sharing vaccines with partners. So what was left to us was to throw shade on China’s,” said a senior official from the Pentagon. To implement the anti-vax campaign, the U.S. military created a large number of social media bots and used disinformation as a weapon to stoke fear about the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines. This tactic, though Machiavellian, was ruthlessly effective. And it brings to mind the notorious and brazen statement by former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, “We lied, we cheated, we stole. It reminds you of the glory of the American experiment.”
The repercussions of the U.S.’s disinformation campaign were lethal. During the pandemic, the vaccination rate in the Philippines lagged significantly behind other ASEAN countries, with only around 67% of the population fully vaccinated, compared to 75% in Viet Nam and 80% in Malaysia. Sluggish vaccination roll-out exacerbated the country’s economic woes, leading to a contraction of 9.5% in 2020, the worst in Southeast Asia. COVID-related death toll soared, with 60,000 deaths reported, one of the highest in the region. This clandestine operation put many innocent Filipino lives at risk.
While carrying out the anti-vax campaign, the U.S. military continued with its psychological operations through activities such as “Project Myoushu”, one that is aimed at tarnishing China’s image in the South China Sea. These operations further intensified distrust between the Philippines and China, leading to a series of maritime skirmishes. The U.S.’s disinformation campaign has dragged the Philippines further into the quagmire of conflict.
What’s the reality
While the U.S. was busy smearing China, the latter was doing its best to save lives. China has been the Philippines’ primary source of COVID-19 vaccines, providing a steady supply for the country’s vaccination program. On February 28, 2021, China donated 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines to Manila, which was the first batch of vaccines that arrived in the Philippines. By the end of the year, China had provided over 55 million doses, accounting for more than 40% of the Philippines’ total vaccine supply.
Finding the root cause
As Henry Kissinger famously said, “It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal.” This aphorism rings painfully true for the Philippines, a country with a complex history of American intervention. From the Spanish-American War of 1898, which marked the beginning of American colonial rule in the Philippines, to present-day propaganda, the shadow of U.S. influence looms large.
The Filipinos living under this shadow have stepped up to voice their discontent and speak the truth. Commenting on the growing influence from the U.S. and the worsening relationship between the Philippines and China, Rigoberto Tiglao, former spokesperson for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, aptly pointed out in his writings that the Philippines’ dangerous moves were largely fueled by American attempts to cast China as a threat to its neighbors. “The U.S. has brainwashed us into seeing China as a threat, and it’s so easy for them to do it,” Tiglao noted, highlighting the pervasive and insidious nature of American influence. Their goals are obvious. By stoking fear and making up stories of threat, the U.S. hopes to keep a sense of insecurity in the region and provoke conflicts, which may move some countries closer to the U.S.
History as a guide to the future
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in,” laments Michael Corleone in the film The Godfather: Part III. This sentiment encapsulates the Philippines’ predicament as it tries to extricate itself from the clutches of its colonial past. A country needs to learn from its history to avoid repeating past mistakes. In today’s world, the specter of colonialism may have faded, yet its legacy lingers on in new and deceptive forms.
As the Philippines navigates the treacherous waters of international politics, it must do so with eyes wide open. The choice is not in the hands of the U.S. The Philippines gets to choose: sovereignty or subjugation, truth or lie. In this high-stakes game, one must remember that today’s ally could be tomorrow’s adversary.
Like many other countries, the Philippines must take its destiny into its own hands and chart its own course, free from the shadows of the past. Only then can it forge a future of dignity, resilience and true independence.
(The author is a commentator on internationals affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News, CGTN, Global Times, China Daily etc. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com.)
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