The insincerity of the Dutertes

 “Insincerity is always weakness; sincerity even in error is strength.”

—George Henry Lewes

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Mayor Sara Carpio, were sincere, they would not turn the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the May 9, 2022 election into a slapstick show.

They would have told the people right away straight in the eye that daughter Sara will be running for president.

No more melodrama, no more acts of buffoonery and political processions.

That’s how real public servants should behave; they don’t conceal their intentions when public interest is concerned. 

Statesmen and women are transparent and aren’t merchants of political voodoo.

True leaders don’t beat around the bush when it comes to telling the public how they would want to serve and in what capacity.

What is happening is no less than Mr. Duterte himself is the one setting a bad example of how a leader can misbehave.

First, Mr. Duterte said he would not run for any public office anymore when his term expires next year. 

Then he announced he was running for vice president after “accepting” the nomination from his PDP-Laban party.

 

-o0o-

 

And, again, he is now saying he has “decided to retire” from politics. When can we expect this leader to tell us the truth and nothing but the truth in one fell swoop?

And like her father Digong, daughter Sara said repeatedly she would not seek the presidency.

She filed her COC for reelection as mayor of Davao City to prove this.

They think the Filipinos are fools and ignorants who don’t understand the Duertes’ tactics and soap opera.

If father and daughter can’t be transparent to the people about their candidacies, how can we expect them to be transparent in their dealings once they retain or reclaim the Malacanang next year?

We all know that father and daughter are only bluffing. 

We know they have been playing political footsies and masquerading since day one in as far as the question of who will run for president and vice president in their family is concerned.

They may call it “confusing the enemies” as inspired by Lao Tzu’s Art of War, but we know that President Duterte, in truth and reality, wants daughter Sara to succeed him, not his sidekick, Senator Bong Go or any of his asslickers.

 

-o0o-

 

But while the Dutertes try to “confuse” their enemies with their games of musical chairs tactics, the people are the most confused, which affects the image of the Dutertes and how they perceive them as leaders.

When people are confused they can’t decide which candidate or political party for that matter to support. 

They become vulnerable to distortion of facts and truth; their minds can be misdirected and manipulated; and they can be brainwashed and pushed to the dungeon.

And we know that Go’s candidacy for vice president is a farce.

We know that the election law in the Philippines allows a last-minute switching or substitution of the candidates. 

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10695, promulgated Feb. 10, 2021, the ultimate deadline for substitution of candidates is not Nov. 15, but May 9, 2022.

The eight-day period from October 1-8 is also the time for filing the list of nominees, certificates of nomination and certificates of acceptance of nomination and affidavits of party-list groups, coalitions and organizations under the Comelec Resolution approved Jan. 13, 2021.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duterte uses aide Go to confuse enemies

 “Conflict is drama, and how people deal with conflict shows you the kind of people they are.”

—Stephen Moyer

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT is now becoming obvious that President Rodrigo Duterte has been using his aide, Senator Bong Go, to confuse his political rivals and, perhaps, the Filipino people.

Mr. Duterte has been floating the idea since early this year that his most trusted sidekick, whose background remains to be a mystery to many Filipinos as of today, will run for president in the May 2022 election.

The President even hinted recently he was willing to run for vice president if his aide will run for president.

And Go appears to be enjoying and cooperating in the biggest pre-election zarzuela meant ostensibly to retain Mr. Duterte into power beyond 2022. 

Ditto with the President’s acolytes in the PDP-Laban—although he has been replaced as chairman by Senator Koko Pimentel, son of the legendary and party founder, the late and real maverick former Senator Nene Pimentel.

To compound the drama, Go was reported to have “rejected” PDP-Laban’s supposed endorsement for him to run for president.

To further put a flummox on the people’s thinking, they made it appear there’s a simmering animosity between father and daughter, Davao City mayor Sara-Carpio, who is actually the family’s best choice to succeed her father for presidency.

It will not be surprising though if the President will pick somebody who has no solid and credible background in political leadership to succeed him. 

After all, it was rumored that Emperor Caligula appointed his horse consul or senator.

 

-o0o-

 

But even the most illiterate person in the neighborhood knows Mr. Duterte really intends to endorse his own daughter, founder and will be the official candidate for president of the Mindanao-based Hugpong Ng Pagbabago Party.

And they are using Go to divert the attention of all and sundry.

There is even more than meets the eye in Mr. Duterte’s recent “confirmation” that he would run for vice president even as it bolstered suspicions they were, in fact, endorsing former senator Bongbong Marcos as standard bearer.

To confuse an enemy is a major stratagem in any warfare so they do not know which way to turn and will not expect what you do next.

When the rivals are confused they hesitate, wondering what will happen and what they should do.

Hesitation can be fatal in political battle when it hands the enemy the initiative, giving them first strike or the choice of the next move.

Hesitation by rivals has a devastating amongst conscripts who assume that if rivals are not sure what is going on then their doom is assured.

Confusion is invoked when rivals of the Dutertes expect a particular thing to happen and then something else happens instead. 

This includes nothing happening when, for example, an attack or changing of squad was expected.

Confusion may also be invoked by acting unpredictably. 

The enemy will always be trying to second-guess, typically by studying your past moves. 

If you deliberately break past patterns then their predictions will be wrong and their counter-moves counter-productive.

 

-o0o-

 

WE have Filipino US Open champions in chess and billiards but not yet in tennis.

But I have good reason to continue patronizing the 2021 US Open despite the pandemic: the venue is 15 minutes away by walk from where I live, and there will be a partial glimpse of what may follow this golden era will be on display at the U.S. Open, which gets underway without Roger Federer, 40, or Rafael Nadal, 35, who both announced they won’t compete again in 2021 as they address lingering injuries.

The first day at the US Open has a special aura of newness and even revival for players and fans alike like American baseball’s opening day, as reported by Richard Finn.

It is when hope springs eternal for all. On this day, everything and anything is possible. 

The past means nothing and only the present counts. 

Previous wins and losses, resumes rife with titles, none of that matters. All 128 men's and 128 women's singles competitors start the tournament at the exact same place, all with one goal and dream—to win seven matches and be crowned US Open champion.

Opening Day at the Open is likewise a bonanza for fans. It’s like lifting up the lid of a treasure chest, not knowing what delightful treasures are inside.

Walk around USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and your eyes won't know which way to look. It’s like your head is on a swivel and your mind is on overload trying to keep up with the action, as world-class players are competing on every court. 

Established stars and those trying to make a name for themselves all share the Opening Day stage.

And despite the throng of fans and the scope of the grounds, there is an intimacy between the fans and players that is truly unique. 

Everyone gets wrapped up in the thrill of getting the season’s final Slam underway. On the outside courts, fans can see the sweat on the faces of the players, hear their exhortations, and marvel at their speed, strength and skills.

Most certainly, every day at the US Open is special, but Opening Day takes “special” to another level. 

It is a celebration; a riveting block party that rolls out the welcome mat for players and fans alike. It is the first chapter of an unforgettable drama.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)