WOULDN'T it just be great if in 2017, after his six months as leader of this nation, Rodrigo Roa Duterte and all the president’s men spoke the same language and delivered their messages with razor-sharp clarity?
With that in place, we shall finally stop saying “Ano ba talaga, Mister President? Pag sure kono mo.”
Of course, the trip out of the labyrinth, instead of deeper into it, should start with the President himself. Otherwise, message delivery will continue its garbled way, and all the President’s mouthpieces continue scampering like headless chicken when their boss’s pronouncements send ripples of protest or dissension.
We’re told that there is actually an executive order identifying the presidential spokespersons. The task explicitly states Ernesto Abella as the presidential spokesperson. But in his stead, then the task is Martin Andanar’s, presidential communications secretary.
So, did Leoncio Evasco forget this when he himself texted VP Leni Robredo to no longer attend Cabinet meetings? He may be Cabinet secretary, but did he also have to arrogate unto himself Abella’s and Andanar’s functions?
In his first executive order, PDut gave Evasco broad and wide supervisory powers. Under his watch are the Cooperative Development Authority, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) once assigned to VP Robredo, the National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, National Youth Commission, Office of the President – Presidential Action Center, Philippine Commission on Women, Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
Also assigned to him are two agencies once under the Department of Agriculture, the Philippine Coconut Authority and the National Food Authority.
In informing VP Robredo not to attend further Cabinet meetings, did Evasco’s haste reveal an eager-beaver confidence consumed by greed?
Next year, the six-month extension requested by PDut to end the drug problem begins. Let’s hope that by July 2017, we’ve seen the last of the drug pushers, and heard of the state of rehabilitation of the users.
God forbid that the 3 million addicts who have now become 4 million, will be rediscovered as 5 million diay.
When he campaigned, he said if he couldn’t solve the drug trade problem in 3 to 6 months, he would resign. Did we hear this tagline in the requested extension?
Too often he repeats, put federalism into place and he would be happy to leave. Reminiscent of Argentina’s Eva Peron, he says, don’t cry for me, Filipinos, if he has to go. He will not miss being president.
Had he known the presidency demanded so much, he’d have taken another road, he says. Besides, the salary of P 130,000 is too small for his two families.
Next year, PDut should stop fishing for pleas to stay. Of course, he likes being president. He likes shocking locals and foreigners with four-letter words, likes disrespecting world leaders and international institutions, and likes grabbing international attention.
His own Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre says PDut likes using hyperboles. PDut regrets being president? Now, that’s a hyperbole.
(lelani.echaves@gmail.com)