Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (Jan. 14-20, 2019)

‘REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT’

AN INFLUENTIAL and respected Tausug politician has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to make good on his threat to establish a “revolutionary government,” so he could quickly reconfigure the country’s regions and shift to a federal form of government.

Dr. Sakur “Datu will be dominated by the Shabandar” Tan, who is running anew for governor of Sulu in the May elections, made the statement ahead of the plebiscite for the controversial Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on January 21 and February 6 in the soon-to be abolished Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

If the BOL, or Republic Act (RA) 11054, is ap- proved, it will replace the ARMM with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which will be dominated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that signed a peace deal with the Philippine government in 2014.

Tan’s son, Sulu Gov. Toto Tan, filed a petition with the Supreme Court last year questioning the legality and constitutionality of the BOL.

The Philippine Constitution Association has also asked the high court to reject the BOL, saying the law violates the 1987 Constitution that mandated only one organic act for Muslim Mindanao , the ARMM law or RA 6734 passed in 1989 and amended by RA 9054 in 2001.

The elder Tan is opposed to the BOL just as he had opposed the inclusion of Sulu to the Bangsamoro region. But he is in favor of federalism, where Sulu could join more prosperous provinces in western Mindanao as originally was. prior to ARMM.

“Only through federalism can you configure the territories that will constitute the federal states and not cluster only the laggards together like the five provinces in the ARMM,” he said, referring to Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“Now they say that [BOL] it is also federalism where one region will become the BOL, but it is not. It is an isolation, because it will only be constituted by five provinces that are laggards, so it is only through federalism that you can mix the laggards with the affluent, otherwise, these laggards will never progress,” Tan said in an interview.

“We should declare a revolutionary government to make things easier… So the President can now appoint members of the commission that will draft the new Constitution and then come up with the new government and then come up with the form of government that we will have. Instead of a unitary form of government, then we can have a parliamentary-federal system of government,” Tan said.

“It is far better than creating a monster like the BOL,” he said.

Duterte has repeatedly vowed to push for a change in form of government — from presidential system to federal — and had even threatened to make Mindanao a federal region if lawmakers failed to amend the Constitution to pave the way for a federal government. Duterte has also vowed to step down — even before his term ends on 2022 — as soon as the new federal government becomes fully functional. He cited the precedent set by President Corazon Aquino, who established a revolutionary government soon after the “People Power” revolt in 1986 that ended the Marcos dictatorship. Aquino sacked all elected officials, abolished Congress and tore up the 1973 Constitution in favor of a provisional charter. She handpicked a commission to write a new Constitution, which was ratified by plebiscite in 1987.

“So President Duterte is just being true to his words and he means what he said. If you want a federal system, you must declare a revolutionary government now. Federal system through revolutionary government and if we have to declare it, the sooner the better,” Tan said.

Sulu mayors, Sultans back ‘RevGov’

Tan said majority of the municipal mayors and leaders of Sulu support the establishment of a federal government, including five influential sultans — Sultans Ibrahim Bahjin, Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Kiram, Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram.

“More than half of the mayors or 15 out of the 19 municipalities overwhelmingly [approved this] and joined me in this clamor for federalism and if need be, call for [the establishment of] a revolutionary government. The legitimate sultans of Sulu will also join us, and I am very sure of that. As their spokesman and special envoy, I speak for the Royal Council of the Sultanate of Sulu comprising the five Sultans of Sulu,” he said.

He said the lawyers of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption were set to file a petition before the Supreme Court to intervene in the original case filed by his son, the Sulu governor.

Tan took a swipe at the group of MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim, who went to Sulu recently to campaign for the ratification of the BOL.

“For us, we held a series of fora where we tried to make the people participate and understand what BOL and federalism is all about. You do not just come and make people participate without making them understand. That is the problem of people who just come to our area and tell our people this is it and this is that, without making them understand. They think that people here are stupid, and they don’t know that our people also think they are stupid,” he said.

Just recently, some 10,000 Tausugs rallied behind the proposed establishment of a federal government. The Tans and members of the pro-Duterte group called Kilusang Pagbabago led by Ariel Urao, and municipal mayors, also participated in the rally.

Wedzmar Abdurajak, an executive assistant of presidential daughter and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, spoke during the rally and thanked organizers and the huge crowd for their support to the proposed shift to a federal government. (Mindanao Examiner)

No cause for worry on Duterte’s health, says Malacañang

MANILA HAS reassured the public that there is no cause for worry about the well-being of President Rodrigo Duterte following a recent survey, which showed that more Filipinos are worried about his health. Presidential Spokes person Salvador Panelo said Duterte “remains in robust health for the sake of the country and the people.”

“A grateful President assures the nation that there is no cause for worry as he is in a fine state of health, and his punishing schedule of activities in attending and responding to the needs of the citizenry is proof of his good physical condition. Even as he performs his constitutional duties, he shall endeavor to always watch over his health,” he said.

Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted on December 16 to 19, 2018 showed that 66 percent of Filipinos are worried about Duterte’s health, an increase of 11 percent from September 2018.

“His body language and his actions, his activities all negate the fear that this man is sick of nearing death or he is incapable of continuing,” Panelo said, however, he viewed the survey results with a positive outlook, noting that it “translated into the number of Filipinos caring for the President.”

“It means that not only many Filipinos love the President but those who care for him has increased by 11 percent. The survey results show that an overwhelming number of Filipinos are praying for his good health, for his well-being and for him to finish his term,” Panelo said.

Panelo said the survey may mean that more Filipinos fear the President may not be able to continue his aggressive crackdown on illegal drugs. “They fear that such an unwelcome event will deprive them of the genuine change they have seen in his unorthodox, tough yet compassionate and caring governance,” he said.

“Our countrymen would not want to be stripped of the searing iron-clad political will kind of leadership given them by a debilitating disease or an untimely departure which will derail the unrelenting war against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs,” he added.

Moreover, Panelo said the SWS survey is a “resounding rejection of the opposition”, who continuously make “ruthless and baseless” accusations against the President.

Asked if the survey would yield the President to release regular medical bulletins, Panelo said that he did not find it necessary since the Constitution only required updates in case of serious illness. “It will not because the Constitution requires serious illness. The President knows he is not in serious illness kaya (that’s why) he is not obligated to release anything about his condition,” Panelo said.

Panelo also pointed out that the President, who he described as “transparent”, already gives regular updates about his health in his speeches.

Previously, Duterte himself admitted that he suffered from a spinal injury he sustained from a motorcycle incident many years ago that he constantly uses Fentanyl to ease his pain. He also has bouts with migraine.

In October 2018, the 73-year-old President said his colonoscopy and endoscopy findings showed that his Barrett’s esophagus was “badly eroded” due to alcohol intake but was otherwise in goodhealth. (Azer Parrocha. With a report from Mindanao Examiner.)

Sulu governor receives PNP award

Photos courtesy of the Sulu Provincial Government.

SULU – The Philippine National Police or PNP awarded Sulu Governor Toto Tan with a plaque or appreciation and citation for his unrelenting and unwavering support to the police force in the entire province.

Senior Superintendent Pablo Labra II, along with the 19 municipal police chiefs of Sulu, presented the recognition awards to Tan on Wednesday at the Provincial Capitol in Patikul town.

The award reads: “In grateful recognition of his unrelenting support to the Sulu Provincial Police Office resulting in the decrease in criminality in the Province and consistently making Sulu Provincial Police Office as the number 1 Police Office in PRO-ARMM In Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign.”

Tan, who is now running for vice governor in Sulu, thanked the PNP under the leadership of Director General Oscar Albayalde, and members of the provincial and municipal police forces, for the awards.

He said the members of the provincial and municipal police offices led by Labra deserve the commendation more than him because of their sincere

dedication and bravery to their sworn duty in protecting the people and upholding the rule of law. “Salamat sa mga opisyal at mga miyembro ng ating kapulisan dito sa Sulu. Asahan ninyo ang patuloy na suporta ng Provincial Government sa ating mga pulis sA pagsugpo sa kriminalidad. Salamat sa inyong malasakit at serbisyo s ating lalawigan. Kayong lahat ang mas karapat-dapat sa ganitong uri ng pagkilala dahil sa inyong matapat na serbisyo at panunungkulan,” Tan said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Higanteng tarp nina Duterte, Go lumutang sa Zambo

Ang dambuhalang political ad ni Bong Go sa Zamboanga. (Mindanao Examiner)

LUMUTANG SA Zamboanga City ang isang dambuhalang tarpaulin na may larawan nina Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at senatorial bet nitong si Bong Go sa Zamboanga City.

Sa higanteng tarpaulin di-kalayuan sa kampo ng Philippine Air Force sa Barangay Santa Maria ay makikita ang: “Political advertisement paid by Reiko Chua, Temple Drive, Quezon City.” Makikita doon na ginagamit ni Go ang Malasakit Center bilang atraksyon sa naturang political ad.

Ngunit ilang mga tarpaulin ni Go rin ang sinira ng mga di-kilalang tao sa Zamboanga. Bumabaha na rin ng mga ad ang radio at telebisyon sa nasabing lungsod upang maisulong ang kandidatura ni Go na bigong makapasok sa mga pulitikong malakas sa publiko sa huling survey sa bansa.

Ngunit mismong si Duterte ang personal na kumakampanya para kay Go, gayun rin kina Bato dela Rosa at Fancis Tolentino na tumatakbo rin sa senado at tulad ni Go ay kulelat rin sa survey. (Mindanao Examiner)

‘Uncle’, inakusahang gumahasa sa menor-de-edad!

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Isang lalaki ang pinaghahanap ng mga awtoridad matapos na akusahang umabuso sa sariling apo na menor-de-edad sa Zamboanga City.

Inireklamo ng ina ng biktima si Edwin Angeles – na anak ng kanyang lolo na si Efren Angeles na isang tricycle driver – at kapit-bahay lamang ng biktima sa Don Alfaro St., sa Barangay Tetuan.

Nasa mahigit 30 anyos lamang si Edwin na nagtatrabaho sa planta ng Pepsi Cola ng maganap diumano ang pangaabuso. Hiwalay ito sa asawa.

Ayon sa reklamo ng ina sa pulisya at sa pahayag ng batang babae ay maraming beses umano siyang inabuso ni “Uncle” Edwin at sa ilang pagkakataon ay dinala pa ito sa damuhan ng mga bakanteng lote.

Nabatid na si Edwin ang pinagkatiwalaan ng pamilya ng biktima dahil sa pagiging kamag-anakan nito at kapit-bahay sa Dona Fermina Compound. Ito rin diumano ang sumusundo sa biktima sa paaralang elementarya sa Barangay Tetuan gamit ang kanyang motorsiklo, at sa mga pagkakataong pauwi sila sa bahay ay doon nito inabuso ang bata, ayon pa sa reklamo ng ina.

Sinabi pa ng bata sa kanyang pahayag sa pulisya, na gumagamit diumano ng shabu si Edwin at pinagbantaang papatayin kung magsusumbong ito sa kanyang pamilya.

Nabatid pa sa ina ng biktima na inalok pa raw ni Edwin ang pamilya ng bata na makipag-ayos at ibibigay na lamang nito ang kanilang kapirasong lupa at bahay bilang danyos sa kaso, subali’t hindi naman ito tinanggap ng ina ng biktima.

Nais umano ng pamilya ng bata na makulong habang-buhay si Edwin upang pagbayaran nito ang ginawang pangaabuso at pagwasak sa kinabukasan ng menor-de-edad. Ilan taon rin umanong inabuso ni Edwin ang bata, pahayag pa ng ina sa kanyang reklamo na inihain noong nakaraang taon.

Hindi makunan ng pahayag ang suspek ukol sa mga alegasyon dahil tumakas na umano si Edwin at nagtatago dahil sa posibleng kaso ng “statutory rape” na walang piyansa sa korte. Hinihinalang may nagpatakas kay Edwin at hinimok na magtago na lamang upang hindi ito makulong. May mga balitang nagtatago ito sa Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao o Bohol.

Tikom rin ang bibig ng ama ng suspek na kasama ni Edwin sa bahay na tila walang nangyaring krimen.

Ayon sa talakayan ng programang “Usapang de Campanilla,” ang statutory rape ay nangyayari kung hinalay ang isang batang may edad 12 anyos pababa. At kalimitang alibi ng mga suspek ay consensual ang naganap.

Sinabi ni Atty. Noel del Prado: “Kasi ‘yung karaniwang depensa ay ito ay consensual, pumayag. Ang sinasabi ng batas, ang batang edad 12 pababa, hindi kayang magbigay ng consent dahil siya ay nasa murang edad.”

Sinabi pa nito – for the sake or argument – na kahit na pumayag ang biktima na makipagtalik ay maituturing pa rin ito na panggagahasa. Mas mabigat din ang parusa sa statutory rape dahil maaaring masentensiyahan ng reclusion temporal hanggang reclusion perpetua ang nagkasala. Nasa 17 hanggang 20 taong pagkakakulong ito.

Kung nasa 7 anyos o mas bata naman ang biktima, puwedeng masentensiyahan ng madantory reclusion perpetua o habangbuhay na pagkakakulong ang suspek, ayon kay Del Prado. Dati ay pumapasok ang ganitong krimen sa maaaring mapatawan ng dealth penalty. Ngunit wala nang death penalty sa Pilipinas.

Sinabi pa ng ina ng biktima na muntik na umanong masiraan ng bait ang bata dahil sa trauma na sinapit sa kamay ni Edwin. Nagkaroon pa ng pagkakataong umakyat sa bubungan ng bahay ang bata na tila wala sa katinuaan at ilang buwan rin itong hindi pumasok sa paaralan at laging walang ganang kumain at balisa. (Mindanao Examiner)

OPINYON:

Damgo sa tawo nga gabudlat ang mata ni Jun Ledesma

DI NAKO masabtan ngano nga si Jose Ma. Sison ma-headline pa gihapon bisan og ang iyang mga pamahayag bunga lamang sa iyang imahinasyon. Iyang gipahayag sa pinakaulahi niyang deklarasyon nga sa tuig 2019 ang prinsipal nga agenda sa CPP/NPA mao ang pagpalagpot kang Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. Kataw-anan ug makalolooy tungod kay sukad sa unang adlaw nga ningbiyahe siya padulong sa yuta sa pantasya kun asa gusto niya nga ipundar ang iyang maka-komunista ug kontrolado nga gobyerno, kanunay na siyang nakigkomplot sa mga disipulo sa mga romantiko sa politika ug nagpahimulos sa uban nga di modawat sa gipili sa mayoriya ug nakigkunsabo sa mga tawo nga pareha ni Joma nga hilig manglaktud sa tamang proseso.

Dili na konektado si Joma sa realidad ug wa makatabang nga tua siya nagpuyo sa laing nasud ug wala sa Pilipinas nga giinsister niya nga maoy tumong sa iyang pakigbisog apan ningbahag ang ikog ug wa mobalik aron pangunahan ang gikapoy na nga panon sa armado nga nagtuo pa gihapon sa iyang damgo sa utopia. Di sab siya kabiya sa maanindot nga kinabuhi sa Netherlands.

Gibasol ni Joma ang gobyernong Duterte sa pagtalikod sa peace talk. Apan sulod sa hapit singkwenta anyos ang mga nangaging administrasyon apil na sa iyang patron nga si Cory Aquino nga naghatag kaniya og kagawasan nagsige og pangulitawo kaniya aron mobalik ug mopartisipar sa gawasnong proseso sa politika. Ning-adjust pa gani ang gobyerno pinaagi sa paghimo og balaod nga naghatag og legalidad sa komunismo ug naghatag og kahigayonan sa maka-kaliwa nga mga politiko nga molansar kadaghanan ilawom sa sistemang Party-list. Pipila sa ilang mga deputado nasakpan sa akto nga nagtudlo sa dali rang ilaron nga kabatan-onang lumad og unsaon paggamit og pusil batok sa pwersa sa gobyerno.

Wa nay laing mas pabor pa nga oportunidad para kang Joma sa pagpakigsabot sa kalinaw ug kahusay kay sa gobyernong Duterte. Hinumdomi nga sa pinakainit nga bahin sa kampanya para sa pagka Presidente, ang Mayor sa Syudad sa Davao giakusar sa iyang mga pinakapanatiko nga kalaban sa politika nga kuno tigpanalipod siya sa mga komunista. Dayag man kaayo sa katawhang Pilipino nga si Mayor nagsulod-gawas sa mga luklukanan sa NPA aron pagsalbar sa mga priso sa gyera ug usahay modala siya og makaon para sa mga gerilya sa NPA. Kun naa may lider sa politika nga maayo og katuyoan ug sinsero kaayo sa iyang tinguha para sa normal nga kinabuhi sa mga rebelde, kining tawhana mao si Duterte.

Apan ang ideya para sa kalinaw ug normal nga kinabuhi wala makaangkla sa walay pulos nga hunahuna ni Jose Ma. Sison. Anaay panultihon sa yanong pakighinabi nga haum kaayo niining maong situwasyon: “Kung ayaw mo, huwag mo”. (If you don’t want it so be it.) Ug tungod niini, ang tawo nga gustong palagputon ni Sison sa Malacanang ning-abli og bag-ong inisyatiba – peace talk sa lokal. Bag-o pa lang gani nga gisugdan, ang maong lakang ning-ani na og kalampusan tungod kay gatusan na sa mga NPA ang ningbalik sa payong sa balaod, gitagaan og kapuy-an ug yuta nga kultibaron apil na ang dakong kantidad sa salapi baylo sa ilang pusil aron sila makasugod og bag-ong kinabuhi.

Gusto ni Joma nga palagputon si Duterte, pipila ka obispong Katoliko nag-ampo nga magsakit si Duterte ug mamatay samtang si Loida Lewis wa pa mobiya sa iyang paglaom nga si Duterte mo-resign o mapalagpot aron mopuli si Leni Robredo. Apan unsaon pagtuman ning damgo sa nagbuka ang mata kun ang pinakabagang duot sa katawhang Pilipino naghatag niya og grado nga “very good” o “ekselente” samtang gatusan ka mga rebelde nanlugsong gikan sa kalasangan aron makiguban na sa ilang mga pamilya ug modawat sa mga oportunidad nga naghulat kanila?

Cebu safe despite UK travel advisory

CEBU CITY – Governor Hilario Davide Jr. said Cebu province remains safe for local and foreign tourists after police and military authorities have assured the safety of the public against threats of terrorism and insurgency.

The Foreign Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom issued the travel advisory on December 31 and updated it on January 9 and it was included the municipalities of Badian and Dalaguete up to the Southern part of Cebu.

'The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all travel to Western and Central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups. The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao (excluding Camiguin, Dinagat and Siargao Islands) and to the south of Cebu province, up to and including the municipalities of Dalaguete and Badian, due to the threat of terrorism.”

Tourism officers from different cities and municipalities in Cebu met recently with the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) and the military’s Central Command (Centcom) to discuss the security situation.

Provincial information officer Ainjeliz Orong said the Cebu government hosted the security briefing and that Chief Inspector Florendo Fajardo, of the provincial police force, assured Davide that security measures are in place to keep the entire Cebu safe for tourists.

But Fajardo said: “We are not discounting the possibilities of threats and with the number of tourist influx especially during Sinulog and upcoming summer season, we will always beef up our security measures and double our vigilance against lawless elements.”

Colonel Noel Baluyan, Centcom Task Force Cebu commander, agreed with the police that Cebu is a safe place for travel. He said troops have been deployed across the province to beef up security, even in the absence of travel advisory from abroad.

Davide thanked the police and military for its assurance and making Cebu safe not only for tourists, but for local residents as well. However, he said: “We have to be very watchful.”

He said intelligence gathering of the police and the military could be bolstered by tapping barangay workers as well as the communities.

Chief Superintendent Dennis Agustin, Central Visayas deputy regional director, told local media that while there is no imminent threat in Cebu in time for the celebration of the 2019 Sinulog Festival and the Fiesta Señor, it is appropriate to take precautionary measures to ensure a peaceful province.

“We may be inconvenienced, but it is for the security and safety of the greater majority,” Agustin said, adding that they are confident that the National Telecommunications Commission in Central Visayas will implement a signal a shutdown on January 19 and 20, when locals and visitors converge in this city for the annual celebration in honor of the Holy Child.

Senior Superintendent Royima Garma, Cebu City police chief, said they are monitoring “new faces” who may have come from other places to disrupt the events. “We are continuously coordinating with the intelligence community. We are monitoring the areas that will be filled with people,” she said. (John Rey Saavedra)

Fishermen, tourists warned vs. hospital wastes at Mactan sea

CEBU CITY — The City Government of Lapu-Lapu has cautioned fishermen in the tourist island of Mactan against fishing, and for tourists not to swim along the shores of the village of Ibo where hospital wastes were found floating.

The Lapu-Lapu City Legal Officer Ethelbert Ouano said they sent letters to Chong Hua Hospital and Ignacio Cortes General Hospital in Mandaue asking administrators to explain why their waste ended up in the sea of Mactan after hospital labels were discovered in some of the medical trash.

Charles Vailoces, a spokesman for Mayor Paz Radaza, said a report that 3 human fingers were also found inside a garbage bag loaded with dextrose and blood containers, blood chemistry strips, fecal tubes, syringes, and kidney trays, among others, floating at the shore.

Vailoces told the Philippine News Agency that the private hospitals have already acknowledged receiving the show cause order from the City Attorney’s Office. The hospital wastes were discovered when netizens posted on social media photos of trash floating along the shores of Ibo.

The Chong Hua Hospital management said it has initiated a probe on the incident, adding, all its hospital waste were being disposed by a third party.

“Mayor Paz has condemned it. It’s alarming because we know that garbage came from the hospitals may be infectious. We need to be cautious so not to expose our fishermen, our residents, and tourists from possible harm,” Vailoces said.

“Tungod tingale sa holiday break, nagtinapulan ang contractors nayabo lang sa dagat. Tungod sa current, naanod dinhi sa Lapu-Lapu (Due to the holiday break, the contractors paid to dispose of the garbage could have thrown them to the sea. The current could have brought them to Lapu-Lapu),” he said.

Environmental Management Bureau-Central Visayas Regional Director William Cuñado said a team of inspectors was already sent to coordinate with the city officials in cleaning up the shores.

Department of Health-Central Visayas Regional Director Jaime Bernadas told the PNA that theirenvironmental occupational health officers were deployed to probe the incident.

He said they will ask the two hospitals about the circumstances that led to their garbage ending up at the shore of Mactan Island. “Health and sanitation team from the agency as well as from the local government unit were able to recover a few boxes of hospital trash,” he said, adding, that they are aware that the hospitals have been contracting third party firms for their waste disposal. (John Rey Saavedra)

Auditing protocols shouldn’t derail gov’t projects, COA told

THE COMMISSION on Audit (COA) should observe auditing protocols without derailing government projects,Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

He said President Rodrigo Duterte is frustration that government projects were being delayed because of unnecessary COA regulations. “Auditing protocols can be observed without derailing government projects. It requires creativity and dexterity but always within the impositions required by law,” Panelo said.

Panelo said Duterte has several times also made a similar statement which could also be regarded as a message to Congress. “I think it’s addressed to Congress. If there are provisions there that will impair the delivery of services then Congress should amend the procedures of the auditing protocols. For instance if the requirement is 100 days, puwede mo gawin 25 days,” he said.

He also defended the President’s rhetoric statement about kidnapping and torturing COA personnel because of the agency’s strict regulations on government projects. He said Duterte was just joking when he made those statements.

“It was merely Duterte’s style to speak in a hyperbolic style. The remarks of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte about the Commission on Audit were expressions of his exasperation and vexation against its application of stringent rules that delays government projects, made in playful jest as his usual hyperbolic style,” Panelo said.

Panelo pointed out that while Duterte’s detractors failed to understand his “spicy remarks”, Filipinos who voted for him understood that he was simply being an “action man” annoyed by government project delays.“We have an action man President who is visibly irked with inefficiency and delays in the delivery of public service which can be avoided by COA’s application of strict rules liberally but not in derogation of what the law requires and still within its ambit,” he said, adding, it was this side of the President, which “catapulted him to the presidency” and changing his style would appease his critics.

“For him to change the very endearing ways that have struck a chord with the masses of our people just to please and appease his critics and the opposition is akin to dreaming an impossible dream,” Panelo said. “The President is a forthright person and the more his critics and detractors lambast him on his style and action, the more he will stick to them.”

Panelo said that despite tirades against COA, Duterte still acknowledges its role in exposing corruption scandals within the government. “He (Duterte) always welcomes any information leading to the discovery of any corruption or scandal. He’s been telling all of us that we have to cooperate with each other,” he said. (Azer Parrocha)