Well, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte (FPRRD) is at it again. That is, in his usual ambivalent and vague statements often confusing his political enemies that has led many of them adopting decision that only led to their political defeat.
What he said in an interview over SMNI last November 7, 2024 that as politician he believed that his time had passed, is reminiscent of what he said prior to his filing of his certificate of candidacy for President in the 2016 national elections and handily won. Yet, he ended substituting the candidacy of the late Martin Dino of the PDP-Laban who he later appointed Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG).
In his latest statement the former Chief Executive said, “Count me out. I am retired. Hindi na ako babalik, wala na akong babalikan. Ibigay ko na sa next generation. Hindi ko na panahon.” The ambiguity here is not on the way the words are coined but on the former President’s not withdrawing his certificate of candidacy as mayor of Davao City.
In the same statement he added with one rather morbid line, “I am just waiting for kamatayan ko. I’ll leave it to God.”
With those words the uninitiated or half knowledgeable of the former President’s ways as a person and shrewd politician most likely they will believe him. But given the present circumstances in Davao City’s politics, the likelihood is that it could be far from the truth.
But of course it is clear that there is truth about him quitting from actively serving as Mayor of the city once elected again to his old position. And it comes in easy. All he has to do is to relinquish his post to son Baste Duterte who is now sliding down to the vice mayor position.
And whether those who may not like the younger male Duterte will agree with us or not, Baste is sure winner in the May 2025 polls. In the same manner FPRRD is far from being an easy opponent to the young and popular Karlo Nograles.
Therefore, Duterte the father can just collect again his crown as the king of Davao City politics and in a few days’ time hand it over to Duterte the son. Then FPRRD’s rest and “waiting for kamatayan” time can continue as he pleases.
There was however, one very admirable portion in that interview of him last November 7 when he said that he wanted to see “someone aside from a Duterte leading the city if it serves the people’s best interest.”
Somehow, it gives a ray of hope that the former President may have realized that leading a highly urbanized Davao City is not a monopoly of one family. And if indeed FPRRD will “walk” that particular talk of his, it is likely that he will be remembered not only during his remaining lifetime but in the rest of the history of Davao City that would be written and re-written in the course of time. And we are certain that his children and grandchildren will be proud of him even long, long after the former President’s body will be back to its former state – to being dust of the earth.
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Indeed it is hardest to understand what really is the real intention of the various Congressional committees’ investigation into its claimed anomalies done by the Office of the Vice President, as well as the alleged extra-judicial killings (EJKs) allegedly committed during the anti-illegal drugs war during the Duterte administration.
Yes, the usual justification is that the Congressmen want to come up with relevant legislations or amend existing ones using inputs acquired during the investigative hearings. But how could the committee members supposedly well-educated and knowledgeable be so dumb that it already took them almost a year of investigation and they still could not find the right measures to be crafted or added to existing laws to make them relevant to the present situation?
Of course, it is very clear that from the way the Congressmen members are treating their supposed resource persons, they are not out to draw to the surface inputs for their legislative work. They are instead out to destroy the reputation of the person who is the real object of their probe. In the process however, they shame to the core those who they called to shed light on issues they think would give them the opportunity to do their legislative duties easier.
Unfortunately for the people they are representing in Congress, these Committee members are instead allowing themselves to work for the interest of certain ambitious politicians without doubts with promises of big rewards of whatever kind.
In the same probe hearings some members find it their stage for grandstanding possibly hoping to get national attention for their own future ambition.
Why not the various Committees transmit the findings derived in the over-extended hearings to the Department of Justice and demand that the agency file the appropriate charges against the officials involved? Meanwhile, the lawmakers cull out the findings they have during the hearings and start their Congressional work of making laws instead of continuously blabbering on their perceived hearing accomplishments.
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