Don’t ask Duterte to change, accept him as he is

INDEED, SO many things have been said for or against President Duterte since he assumed office. Quite undeniably, topmost of the criticisms against him is his vulgar language.

In his relentless crackdown on corruption, crime and drugs, he has insulted international organizations, diplomats and politicians, as well as the media, here and abroad. This has, in turn, compelled the so-called (though mostly only self-professed) “political analysts” in our midst and times to opine that he must change his language and the firebrand diplomacy he employs, lest his effectiveness as a leader will not last long.

I do not subscribe to that opinion. I rather believe in the familiar Spanish saying, “El vicio natural no puede quitar (The natural defect cannot be removed).”

Let’s get real: Each one of us has his own manners, habits, idiosyncrasies and conduct that are distinct from everybody else’s and which we have been used to for as long as we have lived on Planet Earth. That is 71 long years in Mr. Duterte’s case! Are we then saying that Mr. Duterte must suddenly change his habits and adjust to each one of us? That is physically impossible.

Why can’t we be a bit more practical? Isn’t it much easier for each one of us to accept Mr. Duterte as he is, than Mr. Duterte, the president, adjusting to us, the electorate? Alas and alack, unless we want Mr. Duterte to replicate his predecessor’s byword: “Kayo ang boss ko!”

I am sure his detractors will forthwith retort: “It is simply his lack of diplomacy and his vulgar language, clearly unbecoming a statesman, that we are against!” Well, the

President has just recently answered that, saying: “I merely wished to be president, not a statesman!”

That said, I have something else in mind, which may perhaps also bother Mr. Duterte: In international relations, diplomacy sometimes breeds hypocrisy.

—RUDY L. CORONEL, rudycoronel [email protected]