By Raïssa Robles

Because I was curious about the way President Fidel V. Ramos’ government gave thousands of rebel soldiers amnesty, I talked to his former chief aide, retired General Jose Almonte.

The last thing I expected to hear from the general was a very colorful description of President Rodrigo Duterte’s way of governance. He called it a “bukbok presidency”, in the course of telling me why Senator Antonio Trillanes’ crimes were no longer “court-martial-able”— his word.

Almonte made it clear to me that he spoke for no one but himself. [READ MORE…]