How does he go down in history — traitor or hero?

I used to think President Duterte was a student of Sun Tzu playing mind games with superpowers in shunning our Western allies and adulating Xi Jinping.

But witnessing the relentless sinonization of our republic (our seas, real estate, airwaves, government, businesses, sidewalks and elevators) under this administration, I can sum up Mr. Duterte’s “China gambit” as: subservience to China for money and protection. Call it “prostitution” for brevity.

Mr. Duterte’s gambit gives us only two choices — accept such prostitution, or face war with China. This threatening scenario serves to justify his decisions, which pleases China at our country’s expense.

Considering other scenarios outside of Mr. Duterte’s barbershop would expand our threat assessment and options for dealing with it.

To China’s delight, the Reed Bank incident highlighted how Mr. Duterte’s army of supporters would readily destroy fellow Filipinos to protect Chinese interlopers, following his lead. As such, Mr. Duterte’s popularity has become our curse, because the more popular he gets, the more China can push him to cede Philippine interests.

Emboldened by popularity, Mr. Duterte safeguards China’s freedom to enter our territories, collect our natural resources, displace our people and take our jobs.

His welcome stance on the strategic Chinese diaspora into our country relieves civil unrest in China at our expense. With mainland Chinese massing up in our country, China’s pretext to “not sit idly by… as protector of overseas Chinese” may be a cunning predicate for invasion.

Mr. Duterte’s crusade to reduce our Constitution into toilet paper will benefit China immensely. Higher Duterte ratings mean less resistance to replacing our democracy with a revolutionary government, junta, martial rule or Charter change through which China can undermine and subdue our nation without even fighting. Who needs missiles?

China’s best weapon may be our own leaders. And China protects its weaponry. “We will not allow you to be taken out from your office” was flaunted by Mr. Duterte as Xi’s assurance. What do we do if Mr. Duterte is China’s gambit?

Destiny forks for Mano Digong. How does he go down in history? Traydor o bayani?

ERNIE LAPUZ

nitelites@rocketmail.com