WHEN Yolanda wiped off most of Tacloban and ravaged other parts of Eastern Visayas in 2013, it also drowned the presidential hopes of Mar Roxas, who was then the interior secretary tasked with the government response to Yolanda.
It also further exposed President Noynoy Aquino’s lack of empathy made famous with his remark to a businessman who requested public safety, by saying, “buhay ka pa naman, di ba?”
Out of this rubble, then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte arrived and mobilized Davao’s 911 response unit to help survivors. That act kind of stood out in contrast to the Aquino and Roxas’ slow action. That act also served as Duterte’s stepping stone to be considered to the presidency.
Fast forward to the present, another storm Usman this time ravaged Bicol. There were reports that Pag-asa failed to give the right forecast, resulting to loss of lives and lack of preparation. Crops worth around 1 billion pesos and infrastructure at 3 billion were damaged.
Duterte is now president. But this time, there was no 911. Instead, there were jokes and election endorsement.
In a meeting with Cabinet and local officials on Friday, Duterte joked that it is not right to name the storm to a Muslim. It should be named after Leni, his Vice President and his “whipping girl” for his sexist jokes. It should be named after Bernadette, his tourism secretary. It is funny that he talks of sensitivity to Muslims, yet Marawi happened.
Then he reminded officials, still reeling from the impact of Usman, to support three senatorial candidates under his ticket. Then jested that he will withhold funds if these candidates lose.
If this is another joke, then it is not funny, especially when lives and farms are lost. Duterte’s jokes are equally unnerving as Noynoy’s remark during Yolanda. Insensitive remarks, electioneering and politicking during disasters are things that we have criticized now and before. It was ugly in Yolanda, it is also ugly in Usman. I wonder if the DDS could also raise this point to their favorite president.
Storms reveal character. It also makes and unmake an administration.