What’s the point?

What is President Duterte’s point in “rewarding” former female communist rebels with a trip to Hong Kong (“Ex-rebels ready for HK holiday,” 3/7/18)?

Is it to have them meet their OFW compatriots slaving in a well-controlled capitalist society or to just let them have fun at Disneyland?

Will he give them enough money to indulge in that expensive enterprise and for a spot of shopping?

It might be better to give them a glimpse of Malaysian life in Kuala Lumpur where they’ll see a well-developed (also controlled) society, with veiled women hemmed in by Islam, as also happens in some sectors in Mindanao.

Frankly, I think a trip to Singapore will do the women more good since they’ll see a well-ordered, prosperous state that makes the Philippines seem very backward indeed. They’ll find OFWs slaving there too but the ambience is much more conducive to thoughts of law and order.

Our ex-surrenderees might return from such a trip determined to no longer mount rebellions, along with their menfolk, in this benighted nation of ours.

T.E. MANZANO, [email protected]