Duterte stand vs. U.S. obscured during elections
MAYBE YOU DIDN’T KNOW...
... WHY DUTERTE’S MAD AT U.S.: The United States has denied a visa to then Davao City mayor Duterte since a 2002 incident in which he blamed the Americans for “spiriting out” of that city a U.S. national linking to a bomb explosion in a hotel where he stayed.
The “Wall Street Journal,” in a lengthy article on recent Duterte attacks against the U.S., blames “a sense of grievance over colonial history and perceived slights” in his current hostility.
The WSJ article described “a lifetime of resentment” by Duterte against America.
Besides denying him a visa, the U.S. canceled a work visa of his “partner” (who must be one of the two mistresses he acknowledged). WSJ sourced that info to “a friend” and “an associate” of Duterte.
... THAT RESENTMENT WASN’T ARTICULATED OR MADE CLEAR IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. At the time, Duterte didn’t attack the U.S. with the vitriol he has shown since he was chided about the extrajudicial killings in the illegal drugs war.The presidential debates didn’t bring to the surface his apparent hatred towards the U.S. Was it deliberate so as not to alienate Filipinos who’re mostly pro-U.S.? Did media overlook his foreign policy position? It could’ve been brought up in some public speeches but media minimized it.
... WHAT CHANGED DENR CHIEF’S MIND about closing the Inayawan, Pardo, Cebu City landfill: Thursday, Oct. 20, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez told Mayor Tomas Osmeña the dumpsite could still be fixed. The following day, the papers banner-headlined her order to close it.
It was the conviction that she wasn’t getting the real score about the landfill that must have prompted her to flip, which Tomas said resulted in his “mental dislocation” (what does a person do when his mind is unhinged?)
The change of mind though didn’t prove Lopez is on top of the situation in her department. Not only did her EMB chief in the region allegedly “misinform” her by withholding some facts, he has apparently used the litigation so as to dodge her order.
As Councilor Joel Garganera might ask, “Nganong gi- blind iyang boss?”
... WHAT FOREIGN SECRETARY PERFECTO YASAY JR. SAID about Duterte’s off-the-cuff statements about the China dispute are non-binding.
“Off-the-cuff” means he made the statements though he was “not prepared” or “didn’t think about” it. That in effect is “talking without thinking.” LESS THAN NEWS, MORE THAN RUMOR