Here a very good article! a bit long for the lazy people, so i highlight some parts! (I do not agree with everything he said but overall, good article!)
From the column of Andrew J. Masigan, Author/The Philippine Star:
I spent the better part of the night thinking about Duterte's back-out from the debate.
It was political suicide to do so. I felt embarrassed for him.
But then again, challenging CJ Carpio to a debate was a no-win situation in the first place. It was self inflicted on his part.
I felt betrayed because up until the middle of the pandemic, I promised myself, and my friends working for this administration, that I would give him all the support to succeed. After all, we are all playing for one team...team Philippines.
But after witnessing how he mismanaged the pandemic and how he is stubbornly working for China's interest, I realized that the damage he could do the country could be irreversible. And this, I cannot let pass without speaking up.
To say it straight -- he is the worst president we have ever had.
He is the worst because he is a POSER.
He poses as a patriot but he is not.
He poses as a strongman but he is not.
He poses as a man for the poor but he is not.
He poses as a reformist but he is not.
He poses to be anti-crime but he is not.
He poses as a man of wisdom but he is not.
He poses to be anti oligarch but he is not.
He poses to be a crusader of the masses but he is not.
We've had bad President's before, like Joseph Estrada , who was downright incompetent and a clown. But at least he owned it.
Duterte is different. He is a liar, a lousy manager, a traitor and a coward -- and he continues to "pose" for anyone willing to believe him
But I must make a caveat.... I do not discount the many wins of this administration.
They have delivered on many fronts including: infrastructure development, tax reform, sustainable tourism, protecting FDI interest and good central bank management, among others.
I also give special mention to the DFA and the Department of Defense for using all the tools in their disposal to protect our territories from China, despite Duterte working to the contrary. That said, I now realize that all the wins were a result of good cabinet secretaries, under the baton of Exec Secretary Bingbong Medialdea. Quietly and in the background, Bingbong has kept the country on an even keel.
If anything, Duterte's politics, simple mindedness, personal biases and distorted values are our great stumbling blocks to progress.
Never again elect politicians of his kind.
