MANILA
President Rodrigo Duterte’s communications secretary, Martin Andanar, has compared the President to an earlier one, Ramon Magsaysay. As they say in Hollywood, “that’s a stretch.”
I’ve commented before that the work of mouthpieces is a tough one. I understand that rah-rah boys have to put the best spin on their clients: My boss is the best this and the best that.
But when the praise and the hosannas go overboard, that vexes people’s credulity.
I was in grade school when Magsaysay was the president. He had a reputation for being a man of the people.
Simple in manner and tastes, he typically wore an unembroidered barong Tagalog, a man shirt a later president, Diosdado Macapagal, adopted too to earn the sobriquet “Common Man.” Neither Magsaysay nor Macapagal wore their simple barongs with rolled-up sleeves, as Mr. Duterte does.
Magsaysay came from humble origins. He came from the proud province of Zambales in Central Luzon. He worked in the motor pool of the army. He was plucked from such a quiet and obscure existence to become a congressman and later defense secretary instrumental in combating the then growing pro-poor, pro-farmer Huk rebellion.
He was president from 1954 to 1957, his term cut short when a plane carrying him crashed on Mount Manunggal in Cebu Province.
Magsaysay’s political career was said to be orchestrated and nurtured by the Americans, leading to his being called an “Amboy.” The US Central Intelligence Agency reportedly guided and promoted his ascent to the presidency.
The people loved Magsaysay for his simple ways. He was a quiet, dedicated and revered national leader.
In contrast President Duterte is a brusque person who spews obscenities practically every time he opens his mouth. He curses people. He alienates both his fellow countrymen and foreigners. He has cursed US President Barack Obama and Pope Francis.
Mr. Duterte likes to threaten to kill people. I’ve never heard or seen any other leader in the world who’s continuing mantra is that he will kill people. Really, what kind of human being does that?
The Duterte Cabinet apparently loves this kind of personality. Otherwise they would have declined their appointment to the President’s inner circle, as former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro wisely did.
Duterte defends and is proud of what he calls his “war” on drugs. His chief cheerleader and enforcer in killing drug suspects is the national chief of police, Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, nicknamed Bato (“stone,” in Pilipino).
Duterte insists those summarily killed are not suspects but criminals. How can that be when the said persons didn’t go through the judicial process? Only a court of law can pass judgment on whether a person is a criminal or not. This is the bone of contention between Duterte and his fans and dissenters. The police cannot be judge, jury and executioner at the same time.
I don’t think Magsaysay would have carried on like a drunken sailor cursing the high heavens or the lowest hell. And I don’t think Magsaysay would have approved of or ordered the killing of crime suspects without due judicial process.
Magsaysay was a quiet man. He was a simple man, with simple ways. His soft-spokenness was his signature identity. Other personalities compared to him are gruff, boastful and full of hubris. And of themselves.
I wonder how the Magsaysay family feels about their grand old man being compared to a gruff old man?
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