Goodbye, Mr. Duterte
In 2016, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said he has the limited, narrow horizon of a city mayor but he will appoint qualified people to his administration and that he will not interfere, thus he set the structure of his presidency, abdicating his constitutional executive authority and spawning discordant mindset and actions in the executive branch.
No prisoners. In the war vs. drugs that he kept for himself, he declared that his army and his police take no prisoners, “patayin nyo na lang para walang ng pakakainin” (or words to that effect).
No transparency. Public works contracts funded by China and awarded to Chinese companies, the provisions not disclosed for being confidential.
No case vs. Senator De Lima. Sen. Leila de Lima was indicted and detained for five years for alleged conspiracy in the prohibited drug trade. Three or more prosecution witnesses have recanted their testimony and declared that they were threatened and forced to sign their affidavits falsely linking Senator De Lima to the prohibited drug trade. One criminal complaint against her was dismissed; it is a wonder why the rest of the criminal cases against her are not dismissed as well.
Gave up on corruption. In his midterm, he declared he did not know that corruption was pervasive and that he could not stop it even if given 20 years.
“Inutil” in the West Philippine Sea. In his own words, he is inutil in regard to the maritime and territorial incursion of China in the West Philippine Sea. He described the Arbitral Award in favor of the Philippines as a mere paper that he can throw to the basura.
34 “e-sabong” bettors. The 34 e-sabong bettors and personnel who were abducted and missing since last year are “kinain na ng pating” (or words to that effect) and he did not order the investigation of the incident, so the persons responsible for the abduction and death are brought to justice.
Lawyering for cronies. In the Senate blue ribbon hearings on the award of P11 billion in Department of Health funds to Pharmally with a paltry P625,000 capital with no track record, Mr. Duterte lawyered for Pharmally trying to stop the hearing, in violation of the separation of powers and checks and balances.
His legacies are nothing to crow about. Good thing that Mr. Duterte will be gone by June 30.
JOSE J. FERRER JR.
[email protected]
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