It’s unprecedented in Philippine political history that in four months’ time a new president has become the object of serious criticism. Even the unwanted (by the intelligent class) Joseph “Erap” Estrada didn’t suffer such dislike in his time.
In the presidential campaign of 1998, the masses were not only willing to vote for Estrada, they were quite eager to do so. But the thinking class thought otherwise.
“Anybody but Estrada!” or “If Erap wins, I will migrate to [supply country of choice].” (“Erap” is Estrada’s nickname.) There was a lot of anxiety over Estrada becoming president. But the masses liked him and he went on to win the presidency with 40 percent of the vote.
Apprehension over Estrada centered on his lack of a work ethic and an intellectual grasp of the presidency. His own chief of staff revealed Estrada and his personal friends stayed up late at night enjoying themselves and imbibing expensive Petrus wine. His soirees with chums were dubbed the “Midnight Cabinet.”
Still, people were generally tolerant of Erap. Until he went overboard.
Members of his official Cabinet abandoned him. Soon political allies did the same. He was impeached but his trial at the Senate ended abruptly when members of the opposition walked out after they were outvoted by Estrada’s allies over the opening of an envelope that was believed at the time to contain incriminating evidence.
The resulting public anger spilled over to Edsa, the main thoroughfare in Metro Manila that was the site of the first People Power “revolution” that led to the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. The second tumult at Edsa over Estrada’s corruption culminated in his humiliating resignation.
Later Estrada was charged in court and convicted of plunder (he was pardoned by his successor, President Gloria Arroyo). But his ouster took place three years into his term.
Complaints against President Duterte have started surfacing within the first three months of his term. And today, after an initial silence among the people, these complaints are starting to snowball. More and more people are voicing their unhappiness, disgust and anger over Duterte’s virtual one-man rule, plus his coarse language, brushing aside his Cabinet secretaries who are often in the dark about what he’s going to announce at his nightly monologues.
To the surprise of many Filipinos, Duterte have been insulting Americans, particularly President Obama. America and the Philippines have been close allies for decades.
He also railed against the United Nations and the European Union because they had expressed concern over the summary killings happening nightly in the country. And he cursed Pope Francis during the presidential campaign early this year.
It appears the President’s outbursts are provoked by personal grudges he bears against certain personalities or organizations. Either by design or coincidence, his targets are Caucasian people or based in the West.
But does it serve the Philippines’ national interest for the President to be antagonizing people who happen to be his pet peeves? Shouldn’t he put aside his personal anger and urge for vengeance and pursue holistic policies that will give the country wider latitude in building social, economic and military ties with more countries, rather than just one or two?
Mr. Duterte is letting his personal animosities dictate his actions as president. He goes by whatever personal grudge is gnawing at his ego at any given time and let that dominate his rants.
More and more Filipinos are seeing Duterte’s behavior as dangerous for the country. This is becoming more and more evident in both mainstream and social media.
After their silence in the past four months, the people are beginning to question the President’s chosen ideological and philosophical path. His autocratic style is bothering more people. He seems to think he can just decide on policy changes by himself without consulting the people. Or even his Cabinet.
When Estrada’ misgovernment became obvious, the people put their feet down. Still, it took a couple of years before the people had had enough of Erap.
Today, the people are increasingly getting restless over President Duterte. He’s only been in office for four months. How much more time will they give him?
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