In every event that President Rodrigo attended recently, he voiced his intention to drive the US military away from country. He never stopped talking about it, especially when his audience is our military.
In his latest tirade, which was made during the gathering of local government officials in Makati City, he told US President Barack Obama to go to hell and the EU (European Union) to “choose purgatory.”
Perhaps, President Duterte focused on Obama because, after the US presidential elections next month, he will be an ex-president.
President Duterte is angry at the US and EU for criticizing him on his human rights violations as shown in the extrajudicial killings of drug pushers and users whose body count is now about 3,000, including those killed by so-called vigilantes.
Even Sen. Dick Gordon, who now chairs the Senate committee that is investigating the extrajudicial killings, criticized the President for being so noisy. Surprisingly, PDU30 did not hurl invectives at Senator Gordon and only said he would not stop talking.
Amazingly, many Filipinos have kept mum on extrajudicial killings. Only the relatives of those who died during police operations have voiced out their grievance against the Duterte administration.
On the other hand, how I wish that President Duterte would only use his anti-US tirade as bluff to prod the US government to give more military and economic aid to our country.
In his previous statements, President Duterte said the ongoing joint US-Philippine military exercises would be the last in his term. He also doesn’t want a joint patrol with the US on the West Philippines Sea near the islands that China also claims.
In driving away the US and EU, PDU30 is opening our doors to China and Russia. China has claimed part of our exclusive economic zone. He would not also implement the UN judgment that declared China’s claim illegal.
Granting that the Duterte government would forge an agreement with China and Russia, then products from Russia and China would flood our shops. But aren’t Chinese products, from copied to original, already in our markets?
In return, what do we sell to Russia and China? Our farm products, like banana? Remember that Chinese merchants did not accept a shipload of bananas from Davao because of the West Philippine Sea dispute.
Because PDU30 complained that the US did not provide our military with enough fire power, perhaps Russia could supply our military with its latest armaments to combat rebels and terrorists. Then, Russia would train our soldiers on their weaponry.
One thing certain is that the CPP/NDF/NPA will benefit from and will be truly grateful to the President once the US military leaves. I refuse to believe, though, that President Duterte’s move against the US is due to the prodding of the communists.
I’m afraid that if the government under PDU30 would sever diplomatic ties with the US and EU, US and EU investors would pull out. One of the industries that provide work to many young Filipinos are the call centers.
A father, who texted me last week in our radio program “Frankahay Ta” at dyCM (1152AM) with Torni Frank, said if the pullout happens, many would be jobless, including his children, who work in call centers.
Unbelievably, the US and the EU still insisted, in separate statements, that their relationship with the Philippine government is still strong.
My one cent view is that the public statements of President Duterte involving relations with the US and EU cannot be considered state policies unless the President issues executive orders and Congress ratifies it.
What is funny, though, is that whenever President Duterte issues controversial statements, his secretaries would come rushing to his rescue. Unfortunately, they sometimes contradict the President.
In a meeting with Cebu press last month, I asked Communications Sec. Martin Andanar why the secretaries can’t leave as is whatever the President said in public. He said when media asks them about the President’s statements they are obliged to answer them.