Netflix is Once Again Influencing Philippine Politics

Three years ago I wrote an article titled "The Influence of Netflix on Philippine Politics." The article focused on how then Senator Lacson's political opinions were being influenced by watching Netflix. After watching the show Designated Survivor which is about the line of succession after the President and others are killed. He introduced legislation called the Presidential Succession Act, referred to simply as the designated survivor bill to address such a situation should it arise in the Philippines. As of now the Philippines has no designated survivor rule.

That brings us to Vice President Sara Duterte. When asked if she would be attending President Marcos' State of the Union Address she said no and appointed herself the country's designated survivor. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/07/12/2369627/sara-skip-sona-names-self-designated-survivor

After skipping the Palarong Pambansa opening, Vice President Sara Duterte is also not attending President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

This is the first time that she will be absent at the event since the pair ascended to power after their team-up scored a landslide victory in 2022.

“No, I will not attend the SONA. I am appointing myself as the designated survivor,” Duterte said in an interview yesterday at the inauguration of the Child and Adolescent Neurodevelopment Center in Davao City.

Duterte did not elaborate on what she meant by “designated survivor,” which drew negative comments from certain quarters.

In the United States, a “designated survivor” must be secured in case the president and all of the constitutional successors are killed or incapacitated in a terrorist attack or calamity.

Duterte’s decision to skip the SONA raised questions about her insistence that she remains friends with Marcos despite her resignation from his Cabinet.

Sought for comment, House secretary-general Reginald Velasco said they would still wait for an official communication from the Office of the Vice President.

In a previous interview, he told journalists that Congress is giving much leeway to VIPs, including the Vice President, as a matter of policy as it is their privilege to confirm their last-minute attendance at the SONA.

For his part, Speaker Martin Romualdez said yesterday “every public official has the prerogative to decide on their attendance at significant events.”

He added that the SONA is “a crucial moment for unity and collaboration among our nation’s leaders,” which is why the people “deserve to see their leaders united for the collective good.”

Rep. Joel Chua of Manila’s third district said Duterte assigning herself as a designated survivor is concerning, as her declaration was “not a laughing matter” amidst the current political tension.

“Strictly speaking, VP Duterte does not have that appointing power for a designated survivor because it is the 1987 Constitution that designates the Vice as the first next-in-line to succeed the President,” Chua said.

Sara's statements have drawn many comments from across the aisle adjuring her to stop watching too much Netflix.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/12/vp-sara-told-netflix-a-poor-basis-for-your-actions

Netflix shouldn't be used as basis for things that a high--ranking government official does or doesn't do. 

Thus, said Camiguin lone district Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo in a statement Friday, July 12 as he chided Vice President Sara Duterte for her supposed reason for skipping the State of the Nation Address (SONA) later this month. 

"Vice President Sara Duterte should be more cautious with what she says. After all, she is still a public official, and Netflix is not a good basis for her actions or inactions," the Mindanao lawmaker said. 

The Vice President announced that she wouldn't be attending President Marcos' third SONA this coming July 22 at Batasan Pambansa Complex, home of the House of Representatives. 

She Duterte claimed she was the 'designated survivor" of the event, which was a reference to a once-popular Netflix thriller that ran from 2016 to 2019. Kiefer Sutherland top-billed the series.

Through her joke, Vice President Duterte implied that she is the desired survivor should disaster strike the SONA and result to the death of high-ranking officials there. 

"Does she have a premonition of the things to come? She should refrain from watching too much Netflix. Her joke could have been better handled given that all high-ranking officials of the land would be there," Romualdo said. 

"In the decades worth of SONAs that we've had, nobody has ever flaunted being the 'designated survivor' and used it as the excuse to skip the important event. Proper decorum and tradition say that the Vice President should be there in plenary at Batasan to hear the good President's report to the nation," he said. 

"This is among the political instances that take a backseat to transparency and unbridled communication with the public. Vice President Duterte's predecessors did this with no issue while in office. One would think that she would also strive to achieve that standard," he added.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1960455/sara-duterte-told-to-stop-spending-too-much-time-on-netflix

Vice President Sara Duterte is drawing more criticisms over her self-appointment as a “designated survivor,” with lawmakers advising her to refrain from watching too much Netflix.

In the House of Representatives, legislators reminded her that having a designated survivor is not sanctioned under the Constitution.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. sounded the alarm on Duterte’s behavior.

“There’s no such thing as ‘Designated Survivor; in the Philippines! Is she spending too much time watching Netflix? She better read our Constitution. It’s as clear as sunlight,” Gonzales said in a statement Friday.

“She should be more circumspect and responsible in her utterances, owing to her title and the high office that she represents,” he added.

Was it really a joke? Who knows what lies in the heart of Sara Duterte? 

Her refusal to attend the SONA really amounts to petty politics as she and President Marcos have had a falling out with Sara going so far as to resign from the cabinet as Education Secretary. Vice President Sara Duterte has said the Uniteam was only for the elections. Now the elections are over and so is the Uniteam. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/06/13/2362448/sara-uniteam-good-only-2022-polls

Is the UniTeam still intact?

It was only for the 2022 elections, according to Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, and it has served its purpose when it launched her and President Marcos to victory.

“The UniTeam was a tandem during the 2022 elections. The elections are over, we won and we are grateful to those who supported us,” Duterte told reporters on the sidelines of the 126th Independence Day rites here in Rizal Park yesterday.

“We are not candidates anymore,” Duterte added when pressed by reporters about the status of the UniTeam.

What this indicates is that Marcos and Duterte are duplicitous, untrustworthy people. Whether the rumors are true that Duterte had originally planned to run for President but for the sake of political expediency ran as Marcos' Vice President need not concern us here. The fact is Marcos and Duterte presented a false front that quickly fell apart. Yet lawmakers are now saying Sara is no longer trustworthy. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/584345/vp-sara-duterte-slammed-by-lawmakers-shes-no-longer-trustworthy

Ranking leaders of the House of Representatives called Vice President Sara Duterte’s quip about appointing herself as the “designated survivor” during the President Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address (Sona) as a tasteless joke and a sign that the Vice President Duterte “could no longer be trusted.”

Duterte was chided by senior deputy floor leader and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. together with members of the so-called “Young Guns” coalition for alarming the people with insinuations of a bombing during the President’s annual Sona.

Representative Gonzales and the “Young Guns” coalition said this in separate statements on Friday, a day after Duterte made the off-the-cuff remarks.

This is the first time the top leaders of the 300-strong House of Representatives openly criticized Duterte, whose resignation from Mr. Marcos’ Cabinet as education secretary takes effect on July 19.

“We don’t even know if we can still trust her now. Whatever happened to some decency or at least being forthright in public service?” Gonzales said.

This lady was NEVER trustworthy. Did Representative Gonzales and the “Young Guns” coalition forget the confidential funds scandal? If they trusted her then they are trustworthy either. For that matter who in the government is trustworthy? Certainly not President Marcos who revealed he ran for President to cleanse his family's name. 

Only Sara knows what she truly meant by appointing herself designated survivor. Indeed she may even end up attending the SONA. What can be said for sure however is her comments are another manifestation of corrupt, petty Philippine politics. 

The DILG and DOJ Admit the Duterte Drug War is an Abysmal Failure

The war on drugs, wherever it has taken place, has always been a failure. Now we have concrete evidence that this is the case in the Philippines. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1632340/pnp-record-1-conviction-per-5-drug-cases-filed

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have ordered a review of the qualifications of police investigators in the country, citing the dismal conviction rate of crime suspects arrested.

In a press conference on Thursday at the Philippine National Policeheadquarters in Camp Crame, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla cited the need for capable police investigators as one of the requisites for criminal cases lodged in court to lead into conviction, and improve the criminal justice system in the country.

According to Remulla, the current conviction rate for criminal cases filed in courts stood at “less than 25 percent.”

“This means that we are not really getting a passing grade. This is not a standard that we can live with for the next few years, so we have to change it drastically,” the justice secretary said.

“When the conviction rate is very low, the certainty of punishment goes down. Then the criminals have a heyday, [because they have an] easy time with the law,” Remulla added.

Citing data from 2016 to July 2022, Abalos said that only 21 percent or 62,061 of the 291,393 drug-related cases led to conviction. The majority of these cases at 223,579 or 77 percent remained pending before different courts, while the rest were dismissed or led to acquittal.

He attributed this dismal performance to the lack of training in the judicial process of investigators-on-case, particularly on the police’s failure to follow the chain of custody of evidence under the law due to lack of witnesses.

Drugs are bad m'kay? But look at those stats!! During Duterte's term only 21 percent of drug cases led to a conviction. 77 percent remain pending and the rest have been acquitted due to chain of custody issues. That is abysmal. There is no other word to describe it. The new DILG Secretary wants to reassess training for police investigators. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/07/21/2197010/dilg-push-reassessment-training-police-investigators

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said Thursday that it would advocate for a reassessment of the training and qualification for police investigators, especially those participating in the government's anti-drug efforts. 

At a joint press briefing Thursday morning between the Justice and Interior Departments, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos questioned the training of the country's cops, pointing out as an example that only 123 of the 22,774 police investigators in the country are graduates of law. 

Citing data from 2016 to July 2022, Abalos said that only 62,000 or just 21% of the some 291,000 drug cases filed by the Philippine National Police have landed convictions. Abalos pointed to lack of training in the judicial process. 

"Whatever they have, we will supplement it...There should be a reassessment of those who were chosen. What were their qualifications? What seminar did they undergo?" Abalos said in mixed Filipino and English. 

"What is important is not the quantity of the cases filed but their quality. So we will discuss this with our people and we will have to review it. How do we get our investigators? Is there a volunteer system or an examination they have to take?"

Abalos lamented what he said was the high volume of cases being dismissed on technicalities under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

In particular, he pointed to Section 21 of the law, which requires anti-drug personnel to immediately conduct an inventory of seized drugs, while all anti-drug operations should be carried out in the presence of members of the media, officials of the barangay, or a representative of the Department of Justice.

"It's a waste to do all that work only to have cases dismissed on technicalities."

Is this only coming to light now?  Did no one in the Duterte administration fail to recognize these kind of failures? It's hard to believe. Look at this number "123 of the 22,774 police investigators in the country are graduates of law." That means less than 1% of all police investigators are law graduates!

How can anyone look at these numbers and claim that the Philippines justice system is not only functional but world class?? You would have to be stupid to say such a thing.

Drugs are a scourge and need to be eradicated  but you cannot just go in guns blazing and that has been the modus operandi for the past six years. If the majority of these cases do not stand the scrutiny of the law then there is a real problem. Perhaps this new administration can fix it. But I won't hold my breath.

American Show Kidding Calls Philippines A Police State and Duterte A Dictator

If it wasn't enough for Jim Carrey's new TV show Kidding to portray the PNP as thieves and killers now two characters are shown calling Duterte a dictator and the Philippines a police state. The context is rather odd if you do not follow the show. The scene starts off like this:

"You know whose fault this is? Duterte. He turned the Philippines into a police state. He has oppressed his people for too long. You can't just heave a man off a building for singing about divorce!"

The lady on the toilet is Catherine Keener who plays the sister of Jim Carrey's character while the other lady is Judy Greer who plays his ex-wife. The references to Duterte and the Philippines callback to the previous episode.

Watch below.

You know whose fault this is? Duterte.
He turned the Philippines into a police state.
He has oppressed his people for too long.
You can't just heave a man off a building for singing about divorce! The problem is men.

Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=kidding-2018&episode=s02e0

Duterte's Accusation That America Has No Honour is a Flat Out Lie

Uh-oh he did it again. Duterte cursed the USA and accused America of having no honour while extolling the altruism of Russia and China. 

https://www.rt.com/news/460691-americans-lack-honor-duterte/

The US administration is not true to their promises, President Rodrigo Duterte stressed, still angry about Washington bailing out on a small arms shipment to its former territory under the pretext of human rights violations. 

“The US is something else, too bossy. Their lieutenants talk like generals. That’s why I don’t listen to them. They do not have a word of honor,” Duterte said in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, recalling how Washington halted the planned sale of 26,000 assault rifles for the Philippines’ national police in 2016.

Why he would bring up this incident from 2016 is anyone's guess. But let's get the facts straight. ONE and ONLY ONE Senator on the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee opposed this sale. Allegedly because of this one man's complaint the sale was halted but this has never been confirmed. The US never gave notice to the Philippines that the sale was cancelled.  There were only rumours floating about and it was DUTERTE who cancelled the deal.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/842010/duterte-cancels-us-firearms-deal

The transaction was earlier reported to have been canceled by the United States, but the Philippine National Police said it had received no such notice and plans to continue the P1.7-billion deal. 

But on Monday, Mr. Duterte made it clear that the deal would not be pushing through. 

“I would like to announce now that the 26,000 [rifles] that was, maybe, ordered or were ordered already, I am ordering its cancelation by the police,” he said in a speech in Malacañang on Monday.

Instead of talking to the ambassador or anyone in Washington DUTERTE, on the basis of a media report, cancelled the deal all on his own. This is the exact same thing that happened last year when Duterte cancelled a helicopter deal with Canada.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/09/18/duterte-terminates-canada-chopper-deal

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday ordered the cancellation of a $233-million chopper deal with Canada after several Canadian politicians questioned why Ottawa allowed the purchase despite reported human rights violations in the country under the tough-talking Filipino leader. 

“I want to tell the Armed Forces to cut the deal. Huwag na ituloy and somehow we will look for another supplier. We respect the stand of Canada,” Duterte said in a news conference in Davao City. 

"Do not buy anymore from Canada or from the United States because there is always a condition attached." 

Ottawa had raised concerns the choppers would be used to fight rebels after Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla, chief of plans at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the helicopters would be used for internal security operations apart from deployment in search-and-rescue and disaster relief missions. 

Canada's International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne earlier said the deal formally signed Tuesday had been struck in 2012 on the understanding the helicopters would be used for search-and-rescue missions. 

"When we saw that declaration ... we immediately launched a review with the relevant authorities. And we will obviously review the facts and take the right decision," Champagne told reporters, without giving more details. 

Asked later whether he was concerned the helicopters might be used against Filipino citizens, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau replied: "Absolutely." 

Canada has very clear regulations about to whom it can sell weapons and how they can be used, he said during a question and answer event at the University of Chicago.

Without taking into consideration that this deal had been struck 6 years prior and without considering that the Philippines itself had declared what the purpose of the helicopters would be thus making the deal conditional upon said use and without considering that the AFP said the choppers would be used for purposes not previously stated Duterte unilaterally canceled the deal after Canada said they wanted to review it. Now the Philippines is without the helicopters it needs. Now the Philippines is worse off because Duterte got offended and threw a tantrum.

Despite the helicopter ordeal and even the garbage debacle Duterte does not regularly denounce Canada as having no honour as he does the USA. For what purpose does he continually denounce the USA saying Americans have no honour and they don't keep their promises when the exact opposite is true?

When the Marawi siege happened it was not China or Russia that lent the first hand. It was America. It was the US Military which provided weapons and intelligence.

Chinese and Russian weapons did not arrive in the Philippines until the siege was almost over. Yet Duterte went out of his way to lie to the nation about the AFP using a Chinese made rifle to kill Isnilon Hapilon just to snub the Americans all the while knowing full well what the real contribution of the US military had been. Is that honourable? Is it honourable to lie to the nation about your most reliable and trusted ally?

If the US has no honour then why sign the EDCA when Trump visited?

If the US has no honour then why allow Operation Pacific Eagle to operate within the country?

If the US has no honour then why continue to receive weapons, training, and money from the US? 

If the US has no honour then why did they return the Balangiga Bells?

If the US has no honour then why are thousands of groups in the Philippines receiving US aid? 

If the US has no honour then why do thousands of Filipinos flock to her shores every year looking for a better life?

What's worse is that the audience applauded his remarks. Those ignorant people and many more like them here in the Philippines actually believe the US has no honour and is simply trying to push the Philippines around and have their own way. What fools these Pinoys be!

Instead of governing and being a leader Duterte has shown himself time and again to be nothing more than a child who will tear down everything if he does not get his way. He fired an official who contradicted him on drug stats, he withdrew the Philippines from the ICC because he did not want to face an investigation, he has routinely cursed the international community because he does not take kindly to criticism, he cut off diplomatic relations with Canada and threatened war over garbage, and he has gleefully delighted in proclaiming he would gladly declare a revolutionary government to silence his critics.

In fact I think this personality trait is inherent in a lot of Filipinos. Rather than sit down and figure out a way they will angrily destroy everything in order to get back at their foe. He is not the first president to throw a tantrum over the US. President Macapagal threw one back in 1962 after the US declined to send money which was promised. To get back at the US he changed Independence Day from July 4th to June 12th. The money came a few months later after the US Congress sorted it all out. But because the president threw a temper tantrum and could not stand to talk it out with the Americans the country now celebrates a lie every year. 

When it comes to honour Duterte has no moral high ground. This is a man who has admitted to killing people, admitted to being friends with terrorists, admitted to planting evidence while he was a lawyer, routinely jokes about rape, talks about battling corruption but rehires corrupt officials, and abandoned his wife for his current mistress. Duterte is not an honourable man nor is the Philippines an honourable nation. A nation where everyone litters, men piss in public, animals are neglected, friends and family are taken advantage of for a few pesos, and politicians sell votes and plunder the  nation's coffers is not a nation of honour. 

Duterte's Wish For Loan Sharks to be Killed Is Beginning to Come True

Words have consequences. Just face the fact. Especially when the leader of the nation says he wants to kill a certain group of people and then they start turning up dead. Remember when Duterte said Vice Mayors should kidnap and kill Mayors? Shortly afterwards several mayors ended up dead. Remember the 2016 election when Duterte said there would be rivers of blood because he would kill drug users and dealers? Thousands have since died in the war on drugs. Now we have a new group of people who might just start turning up dead.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/12/1884430/duterte-wants-kill-5-6-loan-sharks

“The 5-6 system is what I wanted to kill if I cannot kill the system, then I will call those who are into 5-6 and are making life hard for the people,” Duterte said. 

He said those who avail of what loan sharks offer are in perpetual debt with them. 

“Aside from cash, these loan sharks also offer beds, cabinets or other items which add up to the amount of loan,” Duterte added. 

He said if he could not stop the 5-6 system, then he will stop the collectors from getting money from the people.

What group of people is involved with this type of loan system? Indian nationals.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday said that persons especially Indians engaged in the lending business more commonly known as “5-6” would be arrested even without a warrant of arrest. 

“Pinapahuli ni presidente mga bumbay (Indians) na nagpapa 5-6, kawawa [naman ang] mahihirap [sa] 20 percent na taas [ng interest]. They could be arrested without any warrant. When they're doing that they’re committing a crime,” he told reporters. 

Many micro, small and medium enterprises usually resort to “5-6” lenders who are usually Indians.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/10/1661193/5-6-loan-sharks-can-be-arrested-without-warrant-aguirre

Put 'em together and what have you got? Bippity-boppity-Duterte wants Indian loan sharks dead. His fairy motorcycle assassin mother has granted his wish.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/01/20/1886529/indian-robbed-shot

An Indian moneylender was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants as he was collecting debt payments in Caloocan.  

Gurpreet Singh, 34, was with his wife Sonia Rani when he was shot after two assailants held him up and forcibly took the keys of his motorcycle Thursday.

How many more Indian loan sharks will end up dead as they go about collecting debts or as they sleep in their house? They had better start maintaining a low profile or leave the country if they want to be sure to keep their lives. The death of Gurpreet Singh should act as a warning to every Indian loan shark. Of course if Duterte's wish becomes too true and the bodies of dead Indian loan sharks begin to pile up an international incident could be the result thus derailing his plans to strengthen ties with India could go awry.

Or maybe this is an isolated incident motivated by personal grudge? Maybe this has nothing at all to do with Duterte's very public wish that loan sharks be killed. Sure and maybe the PNP is a very well disciplined group with just a few bad eggs spoiling their image.

Duterte's Anti-Catholic Intellectual Discourse

Throughout his tenure as President Duterte has had plenty to say to and about the Catholic Church. None of it good. Many of his remarks have irked the faithful as well as the faithless due to the obscene nature of his comments. But it seems everyone was wrong. Everyone underestimated what Duterte was actually doing and saying. All of his remarks against the church have been part of one long sustained intellectual discourse against the unreasonableness of the dogmas of Roman Catholicism and Papal dominion within the hearts and minds of the Filipino people.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1070086/palace-dutertes-attacks-on-church-an-intellectual-discourse

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s harsh words against the country’s largest religion were only meant to question the validity of some of the Church’s teachings. 

“I would not call that abusive,” Panelo said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, referring to the President’s attacks on the Catholic Church. 

“I call that intellectual discourse questioning the validity of certain doctrines of your religion,” he added.

Let us then make a brief attempt at ferrying out this discourse and see if we can put it together. I shall have to start from the beginning in June 2016 and follow the threads of the discourse as he weaves it into one beautiful tapestry. The focus will be on the most salient theological pronouncements he has made and they will be presented in chronological order.

June 27, 2016

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/06/27/1597277/duterte-makes-fun-catholic-churchs-practices

“I believe in one God Allah. Period,” he said during his last flag ceremony as Davao City mayor. Allah is the name of the God worshipped by Muslims. 

Duterte said he has been at odds with the Catholic Church because of its opposition to artificial family planning methods. He noted that in Davao City, pills, ligation and other birth control methods are accessible to couples. 

“I go against the Church because its position is not realistic,” the tough-talking leader said. 

Duterte, however, went beyond Catholic doctrines and questioned the relevance of the scriptures themselves. 

“Those were written 3,000 years ago.  Ano ba pakialam natin sa kanilang sinulat?” he said.

July 25, 2016

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/574998/duterte-there-should-be-no-separation-of-god-and-state/story/

"Let me assure that while I'm a stickler for the principle of separation between the Church and State, I believe quite strongly that there should never be a separation between God and State," he added.

September 7, 2016

https://www.rappler.com/nation/145454-iglesia-ni-duterte

“What I don’t like really is ‘yun bang takutin ka. Pagka maliit pa tayo, magpunta tayo ng impiyerno, magpunta tayo ng impiyerno, kung ano man sunugin ng impiyerno na,” said Duterte, who himself uses colorful threats against criminals and terrorists. 

(What I don’t like really is how it makes you fearful. When we are small, we are told we will go to hell, whatever, we will burn in hell.) 

The “Iglesia ni Duterte,” meanwhile, will not be as strict and will condone vices otherwise frowned upon by the religious. 

“Walang bawal. Inom, sige inom. Babae, ay, sige hanggang patayin ka ng asawa mo. Madali man na magpatay ng asawa, ‘yung husband ninyo, ‘yung 'legal,'” said the President. 

(Nothing is prohibited. You can drink and drink. You can have as many women as you want until your spouse kills you. It’s easy to kill a spouse, your husband, in a "legal" way.) 

Duterte then suggested a way to kill one’s philandering spouse slowly but surely. “Lagyan mo ng extra two spoonfuls ‘yang kanyang ulam, ibigay mo. Two years' time, papalpak ang kidney niyan. ‘Wag mo na i-dialysis, sabihin mo, ‘yan na sigurong suwerte mo,’” he said. 

(Put two extra spoonfuls in their food, have them eat it. In two years' time, their kidney will fail. Don’t let them go through dialysis, say, "That’s just your luck.")

January 24, 2017

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/865123/duterte-catholic-church-full-of-shit

“I challenge you now. I challenge the Catholic Church. You are full of shit. You all smell bad, corruption and all,” Mr. Duterte said on Tuesday.

February 3, 2017

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/02/03/1668588/rody-only-stupid-god-will-send-me-hell

“Do not believe that you will go to hell... There is no such thing as heaven and hell. You know it would need a very stupid God if he creates me as a human being and at the end of my earthly life he would just send me to hell,” Duterte said in his latest rantings against the Catholic Church in the country during a convention of the Philippine Association of Water Districts in Davao City. 

“God is alpha and omega, the beginning and end. He sees everything. You have free will but just the same, God knows that you’re going to hell so why the heck create me if you let me suffer?” he added. 

“If you’re the creator of life, then create another one but not me. You know (this is my) universal identity so you can’t tell me to change. ‘Mayor, do not say bad words, be courteous to visitors.’” 

“In the meantime, we try to survive in this planet and we can only pray to the true God. Their God, with all the pageantry, look at their gold cross,” he said.  

“I thought Christ was crucified on a wooden cross?” 

Duterte, a baptized Catholic who claims to believe in God but not in religion, has been badmouthing the Catholic Church, some of whose bishops have criticized alleged extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs.

June 22, 2018

https://www.rappler.com/nation/205572-duterte-stupid-god-bible-story

"Kinain ni Adam (Adam ate it) then malice was born. Who is this stupid God? Istupido talaga itong putangina kung ganoon (That son of a bitch is stupid if that's the case)," said Duterte during a summit in Davao City. 

"You created something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work," he continued. 

"Tsuk tsak lang 'yun ng nanay pati tatay mo wala ka pang kasali tapos ngayon may original sin ka. Tanginang klase – anong klaseng relihiyon 'yan? 'Yan ang hindi ko matanggap. What a stupid proposition," said an incensed Duterte. 

(That was your mother and father's deed, you weren't born yet, but now you have original sin. What kind of religion is that? I can't accept it.) 

"I believe there is a universal mind. But [to] what extent is the influence of the – I cannot picture him as a human being…But I really believe, i have this faith and abiding thing about – but don't believe in religion," he said.

July 10, 2018

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/10/18/duterte-my-god-is-not-stupid

"Ang Diyos ko forgiving, ang Diyos ko hindi bastos, ang Diyos ko hindi nagmumura. As a matter of fact, ang Diyos ko walang sinasabi except the 10 commandments," he said. 

(My God is forgiving, my God is not rude, my God does not curse. As a matter of fact, my God does not say anything except for the 10 commandments.) 

"...[A]nd then when you use God to tell that I'll go to hell. You know, my God never created hell because if he created hell he must be stupid God. My God is not stupid to create man just to burn him in hell." 

"I do not believe in Heaven because if I do, only a fraction of you in this crowd will ever enter Heaven. All of us, makita ko lalo na 'yung mga 2 asawa dito mga playboy, lahat man tayo sa impyerno magkita (especially those who have 2 wives, who are playboys, we will see each other in Hell). That is fiction," he said. 

"Sabi ko nga, give me a religious guy na nakapunta (As I said, give me a religious) anywhere, you take a picture of Mother Earth from above... saan 'yang Diyos na yan (where is that God)?"

November 26, 2018

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1057313/duterte-tells-people-to-build-own-chapel-to-pray-stop-going-to-church

“How people from 3,000 years ago predict or project what is happening today? You build a chapel on your own house and pray there, you don’t have to go to church to pray for these idiots,” Duterte said in his speech during the groundbreaking of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project.

December 29, 2019

https://www.rappler.com/nation/219912-duterte-speech-christian-belief-trinity-silly

“Magdasal ka na sa isang Diyos, magdasal ka pa dito sa santong yawa. Isa lang ang Diyos. (You’re already praying at one God, then you’re going to pray at these cursed saints. There’s only one God.) There’s only one God, period. You cannot divide God into 3, that’s silly,” said the President. 

Before attacking the Holy Trinity doctrine, Duterte said Jesus Christ is “unimpressive” because he had allowed himself to be nailed on the cross.  

“‘Yong Diyos mo, pinako sa krus. Tangina. Nakakawala ng bilib. Ako ang Diyos, tapos ipako mo ako? Putangina. Sabihin ko, ‘Lightning, ubusin mo ito. Sunugin mo lahat ng mga erehes,'” said Duterte.  

(Your God was nailed on the cross. Fuck. How unimpressive. I’m God and you will crucify me? Motherfucker. I’d tell them, ‘Lightning, finish all of them. Burn all the non-believers.') 

The passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is among the central doctrines of Christian faith, with Christians believing that Jesus sacrificed himself to save the world from sin. 

The President likewise belittled the belief in saints, whom he previously called as “fools” and “drunkards.” 

“‘Yong iba, ‘yong mga Santa Catalina, Santa Ana, Santo Tomas, San Sebastian, Santo Rodrigo, wala iyan… ‘Di ko nga kilala ‘yan. Look, those documents were written – if at all – 3,000 years ago. Anong pakialam nila sa buhay natin?” asked Duterte. 

(Saint Catalina, Saint Anne, Saint Thomas, Saint Sebastian, Saint Rodrigo, they’re nothing… I don’t know them. Look, those documents were written – if at all – 3,000 years ago. Why would they care about our lives now?)  

“Sino sumulat? Sino ‘yong si Santo Tomas? ’Di nga natin alam kung sino ‘yon. Baka pangalan ng baka o kamel ‘yan noon,” he added.  

(Who wrote about them? Who’s Saint Thomas? We don’t know who they are. That might even be a name for a cow or camel then.)

How does all this fit together?

First off Duterte announces he believes in only one God and his name is Allah. Ostensibly that would make Duterte a Muslim. This would explain his anti-trinitarianism. Islam does not believe in a God that is one in substance and three in person. But many of his other statements don't jibe with Islam either.

For instance he invites people to join the Church of Duterte where anything goes. More like Pleasure Island than a church. Islam has strict moral rules which Duterte's ideal church flaunts. No drinking for one. Islam also has its own version of the afterlife but Duterte does not believe in hell or heaven.

Duterte calls the creation story stupid but the creation story in Islam is not all that different from what is found in Genesis. God creates the world and Adam is tempted by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit. Islam finds great influence from the Bible considering Noah, Abraham, and Moses to be prophets yet Duterte says the Bible is irrelevant as it was written 3,000 years ago. He calls Jesus unimpressive but Islam also reveres him as a prophet.

How can any of that be tied into an intellectual discourse? Duterte's doctrines do not make any sense. He is all over the place saying whatever comes to his head. I belive in Allah, the church is full of shit, the trinity is silly, the bible is irrelevant, the last Monday of the month of January will be a special working holiday called National Bible Day.

Wait. What?

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/681000/duterte-declares-special-working-holiday-for-national-bible-day/story/

"As a predominantly Christian nation and the largest Christian nation in the Asia Pacific, this Act recognizes the value of the Holy Bible as the core of Christian faith," it said.

I give up. If anyone else can make hay out of these theological statements of Duterte then have at it. As it stands Duterte is simply saying the most offensive things he can against the Catholic Church with the sole purpose of offending and not because he has any real philosophical or theological objections to their doctrines. His arguments reflect a childish hedonism rather than any systematic thinking through the issues. 

Erotic Confessions with President Duterte

Erotic Confessions presents: Real Confessions with President Duterte.

Kami, lahat sa Ateneo. Sinong grumaduate (graduate) ng Ateneo? ‘Di ba Friday, Friday mass ‘yan tapos communion. Kay magkumpisal ka. Tanungin kayo, “What are your sins, my son?” Eh first year ka. Eh alam mo na kung anong kasalanan ng first year. 

“I, I...” 

“Come on.”   

“I, I...” 

“I, I is not a sin. We do not have the whole day. Speak up.” “I went to the...” 

“What?” 

“I went to the room of the maid.” 

“Why?” 

“I lifted the blanket.” 

“And?” 

“I tried to touch what was inside the panty.” 

“And?” 

“I was touching. She woke up. So I left the room.” 

“Where did you go after?” 

“To the bathroom.” 

“Why?” 

“Kuwan, Father ‘yung the usual.” 

“What is the usual?” 

“Alam mo...” 

“Okay. So you went back? And?” 

“I tried to insert my finger, Father.” 

“Then?” 

“I --- there was hair and...” 

“And?” 

“It was wet.” 

“And? Did she wake up?” 

“No, Father. She was closing her eyes. Fast asleep.” 

“Oh,” sabi ng pari. “And?” 

“And?” 

“It was wet.” 

“And? Did she wake up?” 

“No, Father. She was closing her eyes. Fast asleep.” 

“Oh,” sabi ng pari. “And?” 

“I went to the bathroom again, Father.” 

“Again?” 

“Yes, Father. Twice.” 

“Oh my, God. Say five Our Father’s, five Hail Mary’s because you will go to hell.” 

https://pcoo.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/20181229-Speech-of-President-Rodrigo-Roa-Duterte-during-the-Distribution-of-Certificates-of-Land-Ownerswhip-Award-CLOA-to-the-Agrarian-Reform-Beneficiaries.pdf

This has been Real Confessions with President Duterte. Join us next week for more sexy, erotic confessions from real people just like you.

The Duterte Manifesto

History is littered with manifestoes of every shape and kind. From Valerie Solanas's S.C.U.M. Manifesto to Industrial Society and Its Future by Ted Kaczynski. Now we have The Duterte Manifesto to add to this illustrious literary tradition.

A very small blue booklet not unlike Mao's Little Red Book in form but very different in content.

The chapter titles read like Duterte's version of the ten commandments.

1. I cannot do this alone. This is our country. We must love our country. Period.

2. We are Filipinos before anything else.

3. We must be a peaceful nation.

4. Puro kayo rekalmo, e mutato kayong sumunod. Sumunod kayo, kundi, patayin ko talaga kayo.  (You are always complaining, you should learn to obey. You obey, if not, I will really kill you all.)

5. Hindi ako nananakot, that's not a threat, pag sinabi ko gagawin ko talaga 'yan. (I am not threatening, that's not a threat, if I said it I will really do it.)

6. To my friends and relatives, I love you, but you can't ask any favour from me. Don't use me as your leverage. 

7. I belive in love, yes. Forever, nah.

8. Don't fuck with my team.

9. Sinabi mo, gawin mo. Pag di mo napanindigan 'yan, ay....Patay-kang. Bata. Ka. (If you said it, you do it. If can't stand for it, ay you're a dead kid)

10. Itaga n'yo yan kung saan n'yo gustong itaga! Wala along pakialam. Basta gamin ko ang trabhao ka. (Carve it where you want to carve it! I do not care! Basta, I am going to do my job.)

These ten commandments are the themes and titles of each chapter.  Thankfully the book is very short and not encumbered with a lot of highfalutin words or ideas since Duterte is a simple man of the people.

That page is from chapter one which is a collection of various quotes of which this is a representative sample. Does that sound like he can't do this alone?

This is a fun little section stuck between chapters 2 and 3. How would you describe Duterte with a movie title?  Here is my contribution:

Moving on to Chapter 3 which is titled "We must be a peaceful nation."

Prophetic. In January the Moros will be voting to establish an independent nation in Mindanao which will be called the Bangsomoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Next there is a section of tweets to Duterte with the identity of the sender. Why the would choose to include the twitter handles of these people is a mystery. Now they are open to harassment if anyone were of a mind to do so. Their first names would have been enough.

Chapter 4 ends with this quote and this picture.

When I said I'll stop criminality, I'll stop criminality. If I have to kill you, I'll kill you. Personally. I had to act decisively. Let me just say there were things which I had to do because I had to do them.

Now that we are two years into his term how does this promise hold up? Has criminality stopped? Has he personally killed anyone yet?

Chapter 6 has this sweet story from Duterte's daughter Sara when she was having trouble in her studies at law school.  Excerpts:

I wanted to talk to a lawyer. I rarely talk to my father. We have a love-hate relationship and I can imagine Digong's surprise when told by his aide that I asked for him to call me. 

When I heard his voice, I couldn't speak. every word disappeared in the surge of emotions. I could only cry. His first question was "asa ka (where are you)?" I howled like a wounded wolf. Then I sensed he was alarmed as he repeatedly asked me where I was. 

At that point, I thought, he could be thinking I was raped. 

But you see, I was dejected. I cried non-stop - like a dying dog. 

I could hear the exasperation in his voice as he retorted: "The answers are not in your tears. Go back to your book!" 

Yes! That was the very reason I wanted to talk to a lawyer - no comforting words, no baby bunny stories. I just wanted to listen to the heartless stop-crying-because-it-will-not-get-you-anywhere answer. I ended the call.

Very heartwarming. 

Now for chapter 10 which is the meat of this book. This chapter is the blueprint to save the Philippines.

Hopefully you can zoom in and read Duterte's platform in detail.  Here are the main headings.

1. Fight corruption

2. Stop criminality and illegal drugs

3. Reduce poverty

4. Solve hunger

5. Decongest traffic

6. Improve healthcare

7. Manage climate change

8. Beef up employment

9. Strengthen foreign relations

10. Make things right in Mindanao

After two years of Duterte has any of those things happened or come close to being accomplished?

That's it for the contents of the book. It's not exactly a serious manifesto but it does give us a glimpse into Duterte's mind. A more serious review from 2016 has this to say about The Duterte Manifesto:

Thankfully, “The Duterte Manifesto” does not in any substantial way resemble Chairman Mao’s “Little Red Book.” Though similar in physical size and page count, the contents of this handy collection of quotations from Duterte’s presidential campaign offer no ambitious ideological projects or political visions. Instead, the book celebrates the absence of politics, making an exceptional case for introducing to the government a number of social taboos, such as: the massacre of alleged criminals, the curious fragility of the Filipino male ego, and a possible return to a boisterous and empty nationalism. “The Duterte Manifesto” captures the president with his most memorable words; words that in both senses are sometimes shocking, sometimes confusing.

http://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/politics/2016/10/20/duterte-manifesto.html

Interestingly this book is published by one of Duterte's nemeses, ABS-CBN.

Remember Duterte threatened to not renew their license when it expires in 2020.

If you are interested in owning The Duterte Manifesto there might be a few copies of this book left somewhere.  I bought mine back in June 2018 at Booksale at SM and it came with a 2016 calendar which means the second printing did not sell out. 

At least the proceeds go to charity.

Or so they say!