For the people, paid by the people

Just like his predecessor, former rights activist Harry Roque, Salvador Panelo should earn the title “chief apologist” instead of presidential spokesperson.

True to form, he follows the line of his predecessor that all obscene, vulgar, revolting and repulsive words coming from the mouth of the President are merely “jokes.”

He even adds insult to injury by saying that people “should not take the President seriously,” that they “should be able to tell when the President is joking,” etc.

And he always does this with that patented grin pasted on his face! Shades of Batman and his Joker.

Following that line of reasoning, did the 16 million Filipino voters actually vote for a joker, a clown, to be their president for six years?

It might be too much to ask (though it’s part of his job description), but can the presidential spokesperson/apologist please whisper in his patron’s ear some guidelines on how to be more presidential in decorum and speech, and how not to be taken in or encouraged by the laughter of a captive audience?

If Panelo can do that, then he can probably still salvage what little respect is left for the high office he serves.

If he can do that, the three remaining years left in President Duterte’s term could probably become tolerable. And he would have really earned the salary that we, the people, pay him.

LITA CRUZ, [email protected]