WHEN President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, he must not throw all caution to the wind. It will be unhealthy to depart from the prepared speech, and behave in his usual rambling ways, and in some extreme cases rant against God.
Maybe his many friends and advisers are too afraid to tell him to take extra care. No cursing please. Again, maybe her daughter Davao City Mayor Sara should be seated a few rows where her father can see her, and the latter biting her lips each time the father is about to unleash the verbal attacks. Hopefully, everything will go right in the third SONA. (Ex-President Noynoy not attending. Many quipped: So what!)
The president has been on the attack mode since day one of his presidency. He made public the names of those allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. It sent shock waves, and media had a field day announcing the names of those involved. It became so annoying to those who were mentioned.
Remember how he apologized to Pangasinan Amado Espino then provincial governor of the province after naming him involved in the illegal drug trade? However the general public, by and large, apparently are in accord of President Duterte's move. They are clapping their hands. Others weren’t lucky enough. Some mayors untimely went to their graves.
Those who may not be clapping or amused on his announcement are relatives, friends and followers of those reportedly involved, not only in the illegal drug trade but also in corruption. They may face the investigations, but to the eyes of the general public they are already “guilty.” Of course, people are more inclined to believe the worse than better.
Do you still remember the early first months in office when he lashed on Roberto Ongpin, former Department of Trade Secretary during President Ferdinand Marcos' administration? One liner from Duterte saying that Ongpin is the poster boy of Philippine oligarchy, he relinquished his chairmanship from his firm Philweb which is operating 300 e-games outlets and stand to lose billions of pesos in yearly earnings.
Any statement mouthed by a president, more so when uttered before the joint session of congress will have their implications, good or bad. As it was announced in the national newspapers, President Duterte will not depart from the prepared speech despite not being comfortable about it. And that his address will only last for more than half hour, unlike the last time when he spoke for two hours and most lady solons in attendance already developed goose bumps and could have urinated in their ternos.
TIDBITS: To my fellow motorists: Don’t you think it is damn stupid for mall and hotel management to stop vehicles and for the security guards to inspect through a mirror if there is a bomb or explosives hidden. The security guard is only following orders from a bimbo security manager of the building. You moron! Get a sniffing dog if you want to really rigidly inspect cars...
I talked with Tatang Gem Guiao in our recent fellowship of Monday Club. He said His nephew Yeng is now preparing for his candidacy. “Yeng will get a lot of help from Manny Pangilinan,” he said...Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo is constantly on the move. Projects after projects are being initiated. He may even run unopposed, if his constituents will appreciate what he has been doing for the growing city.