1. The 'war' on drugs is the main issue of the presidency until now. Statistically there is not really a justification for this 'war'. There is no reason to believe that a well performing law enforcement and judicial system complemented by a good rehabilitation program could not be able to tackle this problem within the rule of law. The conclusion is maybe that the president got his priorities wrong by choosing to kill as many users and pushers as possible. The conclusion also could be that this 'war' is no more than a diversion.
2. The vassals of the president used the honeymoon period to create solid majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives, to mute most of the opposition voices and to free themselves from possible preventive suspension for their previous acts of graft and corruption. House speaker Alvarez seeks to amend section 13 of Republic Act proposed by filing House Bill 3605 which makes preventive suspension by the Sandiganbayan of members of Congress impossible. Who really believes this is the right signal?
3. De Lima was ousted from the chair of the senate's justice committee. This as a result of the relentless effort of the president to destroy her, because she had the temerity to question the Davao Death Squad and Duterte's involvement therein. The president apparently prefers to fight personal battles above fighting corruption and cleaning the government agencies and institutions on all levels. The media naturally tuck into this bout, which distracts attention from a lot of other things.
4. The president seeks domestic peace. He started negotiations with the communist party (CPP/NPA an NDFP) whose only aim is to push through their CASER (Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms) agenda, aiming at the nationalization of 19 industries, among which are oil, steel and mining. We still have to wait and see where these negotiations will go from October 6th next. On the other hand federalism seems to be accepted as the sole the solution for peace in Mindanao. Maybe a little bit too bluntly.
5. Duterte's rapprochement with the domestic CPP matches his rapprochement with Russia and China. While there could be a positive sentiment about taking a more independent stands towards the United States, there at the same time can be many questions on his strategy. He might end up having no other choice in case he continues to bash, curse and insult the USA, the UN and the EU and to chase away western investors. He also appears to be betting on Trump as the next president of the USA.
6. Since he took office Duterte's showy lovemaking to the National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines is obvious. Slowly but certainly follow and obey will replace serve and protect. When push comes to shove the question will be whether police and army will defend the constitution and the people or the president and his cronies?
7. Duterte is close to the Macos family. He promised and approved the burial of the former dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. A quote of Milan Kundera perfectly illustrates and explains what happens here :
“The first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, its history. Then have somebody write new books, manufacture a new culture, invent a new history. Before long the nation will begin to forget what it is and what it was. The world around it will forget even faster…The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.”
We still have to see how the Supreme Court is going to react.
8. The cabinet members Duterte appointed are close friends, allies from his Davao and Arroyo time , former classmates and people he owes a favor. Not meritocracy but nepotism. Just look at his chief legal counsel, Mr. Salvador Panelo and ask yourself: Is this the best Duterte could do? Look at his Secretary of the Department of Justice, Mr. Vitaliano Aguirre II and ask yourself (or former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, by the way where is she?) the same question. I like to believe here are some exceptions, but they still have to take their stands.
8. The cabinet members Duterte appointed are close friends, allies from his Davao and Arroyo time , former classmates and people he owes a favor. Not meritocracy but nepotism. Just look at his chief legal counsel, Mr. Salvador Panelo and ask yourself: Is this the best Duterte could do? Look at his Secretary of the Department of Justice, Mr. Vitaliano Aguirre II and ask yourself (or former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, by the way where is she?) the same question. I like to believe here are some exceptions, but they still have to take their stands.
9. Everything that goes wrong now in the economy of course is the fault of other people or countries (especially the USA) and for sure not a consequence of the behavior of the president. There seems to be a tremendous lack of self-criticism. The strategy is: Kill them first and then apologize. There is not much carefulness in his political behavior. His first visit abroad, after attending the ASEAN summit in Laos, is to Vietnam, which -like Laos- is one of the few one party socialist states in the world!
10. It would be appropriate to get an overview of the goals, actions and eventual results of all departments during the first 100 days of Duterte's government as to focus the attention of people and media on the really important issues like creating jobs, fighting poverty and corruption and improving equality.
