Posturing? Help us figure out the President’s poker game

Solita Monsod showed everyone how many times President Duterte talked about resigning during his first six-year term (“Why he’s running for VP,” Opinion, 7/10/21). On a major problem he promised in 2016 to resolve quickly, he is now saying in utter frustration: “I cannot fight corruption… Can you stop it? You cannot. There is no way.”

So why does he appear so “atat na atat” to run for vice president — with the right to pick a presidential candidate he can easily dispose of once they get elected? “Posturing (lang) ’yan… so they would not treat you badly kasi paalis na ako…” (“Duterte: Consider me for vice presidency to ‘maintain equilibrium,’” Inquirer.net, 7/1/21).

In other words, he was just “bluffing,” so no one would treat him like a lame duck. What bluffer would openly admit he is just bluffing? If this was a poker game, he might as well have laid his cards on the table. That gives the lie to all his pretenses. He is such a terrible liar.

Be that as it may, is Mr. Duterte saying that despite his own public confession that he is “inutil” to do anything about the rampant corruption (among many other things— e.g., the Chinese invasion in the West Philippine Sea, the unprecedented increase in drug trafficking, etc.) during his own administration, he still thinks he is God’s gift to the Filipino people? Excepting Harry Roque and Salvador Panelo, anyone else, please, help us figure this one out.

JANNO M. MONTECRISTO
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