Fishers’ group releases own book, ‘The traitor president’

MANILA, Philippines — The fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) yesterday released its own short story titled “Ang Taksil na Pangulo” – a parody of the controversial “Isang Kaibigan” children’s book of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Ronnel Arambulo, Pamalakaya vice president, said the five-page illustration tells a story of a president who committed treason by compromising Philippine territorial waters.

Arambulo said the narrative deals with how the West Philippine Sea was surrendered in exchange for foreign loans.

“The short story has a tragic ending with the Filipino fisherfolk losing their traditional fishing grounds and being neglected by the government,” Arambulo added.

Social media and online forums were abuzz after claims circulated that the picture book authored by Duterte bore strong similarities to the story in a children’s book written by an American author.

Following the heated argument between Duterte and Sen. Risa Hontiveros over the proposed P10-million budget for the printing of Duterte’s book,” renowned author Ninotchka Rosca posted the cover of the children’s book “Owly: Just a Little Blue” written by Andy Runton.

Rosca captioned the post with the book’s description: “Owly Just a Little Blue is the second book in the graphic novel Owly series by Andy Runton. Owly discovers a new bluebird and decides to build a home to help it. It’s not an easy task to build or to make friends with the new bird family. But, Owly is determined and kind.”

“Ay, natawa ako (I laughed),” she added, as Rosca’s post fueled allegations that Duterte’s book was plagiarized.

But the Office of the Vice President, through its spokesman Michael Poa, completely denied that Duterte’s book was plagiarized.

Launched in November 2023, “Isang Kaibigan” is a 16-page picture book that tells the story of friendship between an owl and a parrot. The owl this time is helped by the parrot in rebuilding its nest damaged by a storm.

Meanwhile, “Owly: Just a Little Blue” follows the story of an owl and a worm as they help build a home for a bluebird family living in a damaged tree.