Inside Philippine politics & beyond

President Duterte tells businessmen concerned about his war on drugs – “e di magsilayas kayo” (then leave)

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By Raïssa Robles

Just before boarding the plane to Tokyo, President Rodrigo Duterte read a prepared speech that spoke of friendship and shared alliance with Japan.

At times, his eyes would dart sideways and he would clamp his mouth shut, as if he was stopping himself from saying something.

On the front row sat his foreign secretary, Perfecto Yasay, who had just warned the media not to “provoke” the president into anger with questions. Yasay seemed to sit on the edge of his seat. He was clearly not comfortable, although he sat poker-faced.

Duterte got through his short speech with aplomb.

But clearly Duterte still wanted to say something. He started talking off-the-cuff.

He himself opened up the floor to questions from the media.

And pretty soon, the insults, the obscenities came out of his mouth against the US and the EU (European Union).

Along the way, he took a swipe at the foreign businessmen operating in the Philippines who had expressed their concern over his “war on drugs”.

“E di magsilayas kayo (Then leave),” President Duterte told them.

Did the media again provoke Duterte into anger?

Duterte’s tirade against American officials was not provoked by any question. He himself had opened up on the matter. He was apparently provoked by the news that came out on the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Because he kept showing the Inquirer’s front page.

The reporter who had asked him about EDCA – which allows the presence of American troops in the country – had merely “provoked” him further. Although it was a very tame and legitimate question about EDCA.

I don’t know why, but what the President just did at the airport reminds me of a child staging a tantrum. And when it was over, all the President’s men present clapped at his performance.

Comments

  1. I get it. Like any decent human being, Duterte would like to be respected and by extension, the Filipino people. However, there is a big disconnect.

    Outside the country, Duterte could have helped our countrymen gain more positive recognition and respect if his demeanour were respectable. Unfortunately, his “passion” to demand respect for himself (and the Filipino) is being counter-productive and not helping us Filipinos. He tends to lose respect and either sparks fear or disdain. The irony of irony, he demands respect while he personifies irreverence.

    One doesn’t earn respect when he has potty mouth, incites killing and demonstrates low regard for life and being a poster boy for misogyny. I’m interested to know if there is anyone who displays a hoodlum persona who has earned respect for himself and for his people. His enablers: Cayetano, a number of congressmen, some senators like Sotto and Pacquiao and those who don’t say any boo, do not help at all.

    How one treats others or his opponent indicates regard for himself. When he extends respect to his opponent, it is not an indication of weakness. Rather, it shows one’s self respect. As Michelle O. says–when one goes low, you go high. Besides, progress nor peace cannot be gained by constant fighting. Rather, it is achievable when parties settle issues through respectful dialog and genuine will for commitment to do what is good for both parties.

    Should I keep some whispering hope burning for Duterte’s transformation? How he deals with China can be an indication of his potential as a diplomat/statesman…OR…is it a sheer manifestation of manipulation. I’d like to believe that at times, his heart could be in the right place. But boy oh boy, one has to wade through its dark chambers to see some rare good thing.

    I must give him credit, some points though. He has dressed up (suit/tie) to look respectable for his people. That is a good start. Amusing and amazing to note how he is being “Yasay-Ed” from time to time,

  2. This reversion from development politics to patronage politics has a sort of “use by” date. If it goes on too long–or goes too far–it’ll take us a generation to get back to where we were in 2015 in terms of democracy, human rights & the economy. The normal post-EDSA political/economic progression has been two steps forward, one step back. But *this* madness can go two steps forward, two *miles* back!

    • Just like Cha Cha-Ing. Atras abante, atras-atras, abante. Would take another century before we as nation could get there.

  3. What worries me, and I think all FIlipinos must, is the when the audience applauds to his every curse. Have we become so degenerate not to to be able to separate good from evil? By the way, Filipinos were interviewed and they are engaged in menial jobs, who may be capable of separating good from evil. Anyway, it is what encourages d30 to be as what he is because of people like most of his audiences. I am starting to beleive the criteria for one to be accepted as audience is stupidity.

    • DU30’s messages bridges the gap … not only people in menial jobs, also blue & white collar workers. DU30 has a knack to lighten up serious issues as joke liners or just kidding metaphor.

      Lately, DFA Sec P Yasay says ‘not binding’, sa iba – don’t take him too seriously. His appeasers & apologists are always on stand-by mode. It so happen, the US & EU are the butt of DU30 Speaks or jokes.

      See ‘How Attitude Change Takes Place’. http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-dissonance.html

      Difficult to relate when News Headlines feature DU30’s EJKs in the illegal drug trade. When many people (mostly poor, most vulnerable in society) are literally Extra Judicially Killed as his remedy, short-cut, quick-fix to eliminate the booming illegal drug trade that threatens PHL. But the well oiled drug lords, narco politicos, rich and influencial can roam-free, elude or pay-off the jackals or justices including ‘law-enforcers.’

    • The masa value Du30’s foul, thoughtless mouth as a kind of anger management. Sadly, none of us have done any better job of dealing with that anger. It may very well cost us our democracy. The poorer the masa get, the more unbearable their lives become will only make them angrier…but not at Du30, because he runs constantly to the head of the mob in order to look like he’s leading a parade. Saves Bongette a lot of trouble. (Junior’s always been lazy & out of shape…)

    • joseph, pinoys applaud at anything, kahit yong nagsasabunutan, e pinapalakpakan. dogs copulating on the street, pinapanuod. at yong pumapalakpak kay digong did so dahil kabababayan siya, baka ayaw nilang mapahiya siya sa buong mundo, alam mo naman ang pinoy, demonstrative, e. we are not stoic like most japanese. anyhow, palakpak lang yan, noisy like farts, he, he he.

      • ang masaklap, yung palakpak ay inspiration ni bduts.
        at habang naghihiyawan ang fans ay lalong ginaganahan ang kumag na magtungayaw.
        at ang higit na masaklap ay ang kagaspangang nag-iibayo na parang hindi na pilipino ang mga tao.
        no more gmrc.
        the more violent the words the more na IN sa mga magkaka-dds.

    • this, to me, makes people who have nothing of consequence to be proud of, proud. think of sports fan, this is how they behave. they rally around their hero because their hero kicks the other team’s hero’s ass. it is illogical but this is more about emotion than logic.

  4. I was listening to DZMM online streaming the arrival of P DU30 in Japan.

    P DU30 staged LIKE a child venting, releasing aghast filled tantrum accumulated from high altitude air flight from PI.

    Perhaps he felt relieved releasing its foul smelling stomach filled gas upon arrival than saving it later for a jet lagged ache.

    tsk tsk tsk, tuwang tuwa at nama-malakpak pa ang mga kababayan, kababaihan duon kada kodo ng PI. May sumagot kaya ng ‘bakero’?

    I guess they felt proud to have a visiting President that is warmer compared with their host, aber!?

    • ala bullet train… pero mukhang beni bidding ni du30 ang pilipinas sa iba’t ibang bansa, opinion ko lang po ito

      • If you have time, check the details how counterpart business representatives have it in writing.

        For that one up there? Average train in Japanese standard is more than good enough, doesn’t have to be a bullet.

        Private dev’ts would follow.

        —

        Pa dumplings lang out of the box sa mga kinauukulan. Have a look at AIIB, of why do gov’t’s exist and role of monetary creation to bank roll projects.

        … any engagers to wit?

  6. Maybe we should also ask ourselves if he is doing these antics intentionally and not out of anger. Maybe it is to divert our attention from the EJKs, the WPS, dictator’s burial, conass, and many more. I did not follow the president’s years as a mayor. Were his speeches then also this angry?

      • The reason why I am asking this is because we are hearing that his candidacy was funded by the Marcoses, Arroyos, Villars, etc in addition to those declared with comelec. With his professed loyalty to the Marcoses, one would think that the president do have this trait. Hence, one can think that he listens to these fund contributors. And so whatever he is doing or however he is acting is ‘approved’ by these groups. For what purpose? i dread to think of the possibilities.

  7. Sa pagsasita ni DU30 sa Japan sa harap ng mga Filipino nangalat na namang ang “put…. ina” para bang nawala sa isip nya na nasa bansang Hapon sya.

  9. How long do we have to live with his crazy antics? Is he using medication to keep his temper in check? Do we know his personal physician? I just do not know how such a person was able to fool a lot of people and get the highest position in the land.

    And we have a dual citizen holding the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Guess he meets the requirement some. He is a foreigner.

  12. The President is Mad (n). There is an ancient proverb that says – Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad.

  13. I don’t mind him getting angry, but let him be angry with the right issues, for the right reasons, at the right time. IOW, I wish he would practice a little self control, the base fool.

  14. digong has anger issues and has not been trained how to manage anger. he should be like a guard dog, trained when to bark. if provoked, digong should stay calm and not go immediately ballistic because if he does, he misses impt points. his being angry will not silence critics. they’ll ask again another day, until given satisfactory answer. digong cant be keeping on getting angry. it’s tiresome for him and for others.

    • He is bad temper (temperamentlal). He get ballistic… his way of getting away from being questioned. H got no good manners and people skills. He could just simply says…sorry but I refuse to answer that question or I will go back to you later. Its his way or no way! You cant tell this old man a new trick! as the saying goes… you cant teach an old dog a new trick. Better get a new younger dog!

  15. MY NOMINEES FOR SILLIEST THINGS SAID 2016

    1. “China, Russia and the Philippines – three of us against the world” – R Duterte in Beijing

    2. “…good for the long term, at least for now…” – Sandro Marcos tweet

    3. “… use your creative imagination…” – E Abella, Malacanang press con

    4. ” …do not interpret what the President said…do not make haka-haka…” – female Presidential spokesperson, Malacanang

    5. everything that comes out of DFA sec Yasay’s mouth

    • 6. “….oblique deflection…” – Abella again

      7. everything that comes out of Andanar’s mouth. Or Cayetano. Or Panelo.

    • yasay should give media a list of what provoke the president, like no eye contact when asking questions, wear nothing to attract digong’s attention, he, he, he, or anyone over 55kgs are not allowed to ask questions, must not have american accent, their surname must not be de lima, etc.

      media is not mind reader and would not know what provokes the president. these days, almost everything provokes the president! may regla yata, he, he, he.

    • yes, do not interpret the bduts rant.
      when he said red don’t imagine blood nor anything red.
      when he said blue, it could be white or black.
      hahaha!
      it only means, don’t listen to him, he doesn’t mean what he says.
      bwahahaha!
      the sad thing is, the world listens and judges us as a people getting nuts!