Abella: Less talk, less mistake
A Cabinet member is supposed to be an alter ego of the president, but this does not hold true – at least at first glance – for presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella.
President Duterte prefers plaid polo shirts and jeans; Abella always wears barong and slacks. Duterte will remind you of your carefree classmate who was fun to go out with; Abella, who founded the Southpoint School in Davao City, will remind you of your professor who was serious about his craft.
Duterte is brash, frank and provocative; Abella is calm and diplomatic. Duterte tends to be loquacious when discussing issues he is passionate about; Abella is so laconic that he responds to media queries with one-liners.
So laconic is Abella that his first ever statement as Duterte’s spokesman lasted for 38 seconds and consisted of 77 words, including his name and those of three incoming Cabinet members.
Abella, who was introduced as Duterte’s spokesman on June 13, also issued short but not necessarily sweet answers during his first press briefing in Malacañang last July 4.
“We don’t want to just be spinning you,” Abella said during the briefing.
“If you feel that you are not being sufficiently answered, let’s assume that there’s a good reason for doing so. And that doesn’t mean to say we’re not being transparent or anything like that,” he added.
Nobody knows why Abella adopted such style but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was just trying to be safe. After all, his boss got into trouble when he delivered a frank comment about media killings and the shady deals involving some journalists.
Duterte’s brutal honesty spawned harsh reactions from critics who believe he was endorsing media killings. And the reactions drastically transformed Duterte from a media darling to an elusive source who scores journalists at every opportunity.
Abella, nevertheless, believes the administration and the media should have a conversation “based on a cordial relationship and mutual trust.” He said a spokesman should “articulate as clearly as possible the true intention of the president” while the media should “represent the true intention of the people.”
“There’s been a lot of smoke and noise, but we want to get through that,” Abella said in his first encounter with the media in Davao City last June 14.
“After all, we all share in the same dream. We all want a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive nation,” he added.
Duterte and Abella have their own ways of articulating their ideals, but both of them want the country to undergo radical changes under a strong leader. And this is where Abella’s role as presidential alter ego begins.
In a Facebook post that went viral during the campaign period, Abella said Duterte would make a great president because he can create a “truly new society.”
“I cannot tell you about the personal morality of Mayor Duterte. I can tell you what he has publicly done – he has turned a backwater city into a global benchmark,” Abella said, referring to Duterte’s stint as Davao City mayor.
“He is not that sophisticated. He is that rarity – a plainspoken man who wants the world to work for everyone. Therein lies his greatness. He is an ordinary man with ordinary dreams – the dream of a better life.”
Abella said Duterte exercises “a firm grip to stabilize a city where lawlessness would be rampant if there were no clear vision and the political will to enforce it.
“I understand that in a society in search for itself, we need a firm hand until such a time we can make difficult decisions for ourselves.”
Abella witnessed firsthand Duterte’s leadership. In 1996, Abella, then the head of religious group The JESUS Fellowship Inc., was kidnapped by members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Abella was looking for a property to buy with the sum he inherited from his parents when the abduction happened. He said the real estate dealers led him to a secluded area where five men held him for ransom. His friends asked help from Duterte, who was then mayor of Davao City.
Duterte reportedly threatened the MNLF: “If anything happens to that pastor, I will capture three of your imams.” The threat was enough to persuade the rebels to release Abella within 24 hours.
The challenge now for Abella, who describes himself as an educator, social entrepreneur and former pastor, is to persuade the public that Duterte is not the usual politician with empty promises.
And whether Duterte likes it or not, the preaching of his gospel of change involves dealing with the media. It is part of the process, as Abella would often say in his press conferences.
Abella plans to perform his role by initiating a “substantial dialogue” with journalists who, he said, should go beyond sound bites.
“We want to have a conversation, a substantial dialogue with you. So we might have less meetings… But we will also give time for you to be able (to) e-mail your questions,” he told Malacañang reporters in early July.