Duterte dares media to boycott

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, in his latest presscon Thursday night, dared media to boycott him and just listen to government Channel TV 4 to announce his policies and decisions.

Stressing the fact that he does not need media support, Duterte said, “Don’t challenge me. Leave. Don’t fuck with me.”

Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), an international non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes and defends freedom of information and freedom of the press, had advised Philippine media to boycott Duterte’s press conferences.

Duterte refused to apologize and challenged media to expose hypocrisy in their ranks.

Duterte told media, “You think too much of yourselves. You want to have your cake and eat it too. If worse comes to worst, we’ll expose each other. I am ready to lose the presidency. Now. Or my life, or my honor. Just don’t fuck with me.”

Duterte said he could spend the next six years attacking the media, same of whom he said were into drugs.

He emphasized that he could do without press coverage throughout his presidency, saying this is a free country and he doesn’t like being threatened in that manner. He also believed that he cannot force people to do what they do not want to do.

During his press conference he even justified the killings of corrupt journalists. He also commented that one of the journalists killed was a “son of a bitch” who deserved to die.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguillat said that Duterte’s statement was alarming because “not only does it encourage people to take the law into their hands, it also encourages them to break the law for the wrong reason, circumstances that cannot be justified under any condition, especially in a society ruled by law.

“The killing of journalists is the ultimate form of censorship,” according to Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, parish priest of the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish in Sampaloc, Manila, said that even if a journalist is corrupt, it is still not reason to end the person’s life.

The incoming president expressed that he feels offended whenever he is asked about his state of health during press conferences, especially after a follow-up question of asking for a medical report, which, for him, is a very impertinent question that has nothing to do with his health at the moment. He satirically said that he is not yet the president and people are interested if he will survive or not.

Crime wave

Michael de Guzman, security escort of Vice Mayor Harrie Bernabe, was shot dead in Villasis, Pangasinan.

Media columnist Alex Balcoba was shot dead in Quiapo, Manila.

PO3 Dustin Gomez, intelligence chief of the Lumban Police Station, was shot dead in Lumban, Laguna.

Chief Insp. Arnold Ongachen, chief of police of General Generoso, Davao Oriental, was abducted by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. Two policemen were killed in an attack on the police station.

Liberal Party (LP) re-elected councilor of Sangguniang Bayan of South Upi Warlito Pinuela was shot dead in Maguindanao.

Two brothers, Allan Keith and Joseph Malazarte, were shot dead in Camarin, Caloocan.

A six-year-old boy, who went missing since last week, was found dead in the mountains of Polillo, Quezon.

Honesty and integrity

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte gave the assurance that his Cabinet appointees are men of honesty and integrity.

Except for seven major portfolios still to be filled: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DoT), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

The appointees can be categorized into four classification: excellent, good, fair and question mark.

Excellent Cabinet choices are Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez, Department of Finance (DOF); Benjamin Diokno, Department of Budget and Management; Jesus Dureza, presidential peace adviser, Leonor Briones, Department of Education (DepEd); Silvestre Bello, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); and Ernesto Pernia, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

Good Cabinet appointees are Art Tugade, Department of Transportation (DoT); Salvador Medialdea, executive secretary; Vitaliano Aguirre, Department of Justice (DOJ); Perfecto Yasay Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Mark Villar, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); and Jose Calida, solicitor general.

Fair Cabinet choices are Leoncio Evasco, Cabinet secretary; Emmanuel Piñol, Department of Agriculture (DA); Mike Sueno, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); Rafael Mariano, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); Judy Taguiwalo, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Alfonso Cusi, Department of Energy (DOE); Salvador Panelo, press secretary; Hermogenes Esperon, National Security Adviser (NSA); and Delfin Lorenzana, Department of National Defense (DND).

The other appointees are relatively unknown and question marks. Among them Andrea Domingo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR); Cesar Dulay, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); Nicanor Faeldon, Bureau of Customs (BOC); Jaime Morente, Bureau of Immigration (BI); and Isidro Lapena, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Also to be appointed are the secretaries of the new Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Presidential Assistant on Political Affairs (PAPA).

Tidbits

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the reimposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes will pass rough sailing in the House of Representatives.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte expressed favor for the increase of Social Security System (SSS) pension for senior citizens. He said that P2,000 is not enough to buy medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific should give Vice-President elect Leni Robredo and one aide passes as they do for congressmen.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said she is not in favor of the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. She’s the first Cabinet secretary to defy a decision of the President.