Now that an arrest warrant has been issued for Rodrigo Duterte’s former spokesperson, Harry Roque, several questions have arisen regarding how he managed to slip out of the country.

First, how was Roque able to leave the Philippines, and why did the Bureau of Immigration allow him to do so when the House of Representatives had cited him in contempt for failing to attend its hearings and had sought his detention? Roque is also facing a trafficking complaint before the DOJ related to his involvement in the illegal operations of POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator).

A THEPHILBIZNEWS source noted that Roque’s escape is a clear sign of his guilt, likening him to a rat cornered by a cat.

Currently in The Hague, supposedly to support former President Duterte’s trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, Roque seems to be attempting to steal the spotlight by joining Duterte’s legal team.

While the Bureau of Immigration’s role remains unclear, the diplomatic community is curious about who issued Roque’s Schengen visa.

Under Schengen’s strict visa regulations, as outlined in the Schengen Information System (SIS), individuals with criminal backgrounds or under prosecution should be denied entry.

It’s moot to discuss the merits of Roque’s “fuga mundi” (Latin term meaning “escape from the world,” often referring to someone attempting to flee or evade legal, moral, or societal obligations), as the BI has admitted they have no record of his departure. But with Roque now seeking political asylum in The Netherlands, three questions remain:

• Who issued his Schengen visa in the Philippines?
• Will he be granted political asylum, given the serious cases filed against him by the DOJ?
• Will EU member-states in the Philippines take steps to prevent Roque from being granted asylum?

I don’t want to deal with the obvious in the issue of Pharmally, but one thing is certain at the end of the day – the real losers are the Filipino people and a Filipino by the name of Krizle Grace Mago who was lured by the triumvirate Fil-Chinese-Indian mafia.

Good for Pharmally, it has the pro-bono service of the highest-paid lawyer of the country (hope he has won some cases during his stint as a lawyer), President Rodrigo Duterte, for taking the cudgels for them and using all the legal remedies albeit ridiculous just to defend the glaring mother of all corporate corruption in the country.

While they can play in the legality of the action taken, it is morally wrong and would shame even the most callous Yakuza or Mafia that ever existed.

As early as last year, I already sensed that this pandemic is a money-making activity for this administration and its allies. As what I’ve said before, may pera sa pandemya at may yayaman sa pandemiya. Perhaps, these people have mastered the economics and marketing that would shame the illustrious authors like Economics book author and professor Paul Samuelson, and Marketing book author and guru Philip Kotler.

Can you imagine, the Philippines implemented the most stringent quarantine measures via all means such as the mandatory use of face shields and yet as of this writing we landed as number 53 (last among 53 countries) in the world of having the worst COVID response. Does this not insult the best and the brightest of our country?

As long as there’s manna from the pandemic, there’s more fund in the Philippines.

2020 Mandatory face shield implementation

In July last year, I thwarted the plan to implement the wearing of face shields when I got a tip from a known personality in the business that Malacañang was to announce on Aug. 15, 2020, the mandatory use of face shields. Back then there was a scarcity of supply in the market but the syndicates had stocked up millions of these already.

Warehouses of the enterprising syndicates were ready in Paranaque, Taguig, Manila, Valenzuela and Quezon City. According to my source, someone powerful cornered the face shield importation, release and distribution in the Philippines.

I posted and informed level-headed Cabinet secretaries about this info, and told them that the people were already struggling to find their food and there was another nonsensical and moneymaking burden that was already in the pipeline. This also has caused uproar from the netizens and Harry Roque’s planned announcement last August 15 stopped the implementation.

Why did we fall on the last in terms of our COVID response?

Of course, they are called the best and the brightest right, or creme de la creme. They were retired generals who are willing to die for the President but not for the COVID19. They have guns, armies, tanks, and all the artilleries ready. But the question is, did they ever shoot one virus since they were appointed to be part of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolutions?

What was the plan in dealing with the pandemic? Why do they keep insisting on the “Russian Roulette” type of public health guidance for operations and mandated orders that pushed us down in our response and also our economic recovery? Is it because the appointed retired military generals are used to tactical planning than strategic? Only heaven knows.

But one thing is certain, those who are fairing well did not appoint retired and jobless military men, but health experts from private and medical fields who have a better understanding of the crisis, than those who have gained stars on their shoulders. Who do you call when you have car trouble, a chef, or an auto mechanic? When you have a tooth-related problem, do you call an oncologist or a dentist? This is a no-brainer question, right.

The Dolomite Beach ‘bitches‘

Another appalling money-making scheme is the Dolomite beach, which I fondly call Dorobomite bitch because I feel that the government is robbing the Filipino people of the money intended for “mental health” as Duterte’s mouthpiece, Harry Roque said.

The whole world is suffering economically and the nationwide lockdown forced upon us by the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the lives of everyone we know. It has caused anxiety as health and safety concerns coupled with economic and income uncertainties weighed down every Juan and Juana, setting back a broad spectrum of businesses. And here’s Duterte and his minions, ostentatiously spending ₱397.897 million for dolomite with a rationale of “good for mental health”! What is the scientific foundation for this assumptio non probata? (Assuming without a proof!) What is the correlation between Dolomite Beach and mental health? Good for mental health, or good for the pocket of the crook people in the government?

Commonsense dictates that in this time of global economic woes, frugal spending and not whimsical must be the primordial concern of this administration. They should conscientiously think about how to provide food for those Filipinos who lost their job for the time being. Where is the Tapang at Malasakit (Courage and Concern) that this admin used to trick the voters during the election campaign? Perhaps, the Tapang and Malasakit they brandish are made in China.

Not only is the Dolomite beach impractical, but the danger it poses to people’s health should make others carefully evaluate if it is really worth pursuing. Already, health experts gave their caveats about the health hazard of the fake white sand (dolomite) on humans.

Mind you, this is just the first phase, expect more phases and the maintenance cost (obviously hundreds of millions again!) that it will be needing to rehabilitate when dolomite is blown away by the wind or eaten up by waves of Manila Bay. Need I say more? Ad nauseam maxima.

Let positive change happen

With the debt ballooning to 13T not to mention the grant loans from many countries that remain unaccounted for all in the name of COVID response, I wonder how the generous benefactors of the Philippines would think about the money they give to us, do they also feel scammed?

Of course, Duterte’s grim regime is soon ending and Filipinos are in quest of a leader who will advance the interest of the country and of the Filipino people. In fact, for some high-ranking military friends, they call him a lame duck now. Well, true not just for Duterte for all the past presidents who are bound to be replaced in the coming election.

I know a lot of brilliant people who were in one way or the other were scammed by the flamboyant kissing of the flag, jetski, drug eradication in 3-6 months and prosecution and persecution of those who are involved in corruption allegation even just a whiff of it. Sounds inspiring eh. But as the Latin axion says, “Verba movent, exempla trahent”. (Words inspire, actions influence).

How many of the promises of changes have been realized? That is something for everyone to find out.

The 2022 election is the chance for the Filipino people to choose their leaders. I do hope and pray that when we all cast our votes, we will keep our minds and hearts that this is not about personality of political parties or leanings. This is about our welfare and the welfare of our country and of the next generations to come.

Let this election be the change that you want to happen and not a change that has scammed everyone out there.

Just choose the leaders who can extricate us from the great abyss. The most dreadful forecast is that it would take 10 years (I would assume conservatively) for the Philippines to achieve the economic rebound that we need. Choose also the right representatives and not representa-THIEVES, who would advance our interest and welfare as we move forward and hope for the post-pandemic recovery. Don’t choose the ones who were so busy pushing for the e-sabong, because by all indications they’re already gambling for our future. Choose someone based on their track records and show palpable love for our country.

As for me, I have narrowed down the candidate I have in mind. He or she must have the 8Cs of Leadership that I coined several years ago and these are Character, Commitment, Competency, Capability, Clarity, Communication, Courage, and Compassion. He or she must have a SMART plan —- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound.

What do you think?

Read related columns:

http://thephilbiznews.com/beyond-sight-milking-inbound-passengers/

https://thephilbiznews.com/beyond-sight-frontliners-deserve-the-best-shot/

https://thephilbiznews.com/beyond-sight-sit-back-relax-and-get-covid/

https://thephilbiznews.com/beyond-sight-mgcq-think-again/

https://thephilbiznews.com/beyond-sight-despotism-in-time-of-pandemic/

https://thephilbiznews.com/beyond-sight-wanted-real-heroes/

I’m not a doctor, just a keen observer like most of you reading this column. But let me say that I’ve long suspected that Presidential Spokesperson Herminio “Harry” Roque Jr. might be suffering from a bad case of “foot-in-mouth disease”. And I’m not just talking about foolish rambling and tactless slip-of-the-tongue remarks, but dangerously contradicting himself; for as it is wisely said, “action speaks louder than words.”

It’s incredible how he could stand center stage for Palace briefings, talking about the primacy of government health protocols in combating COVID-19 while images of him addressing a thick crowd on the shores of Bantayan Island, Cebu flood the internet.

Hardly am I surprised, though, as his persona exemplifies a history of contradictions – from human rights lawyer to defender of the bloody drug war, parrying all allegations of extrajudicial killings; from calling China an “aggressor” under international law to defending the joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea as a “practical solution” to the territorial dispute. Didn’t he once represent the family of transgender Jennifer Laude in prosecuting US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton; then later said he respects the “wisdom” in pardoning him?

So, lately, he’s been mobbed by netizens for cavorting with dolphins in Subic and singing his heart out at a videoke joint in Baguio. But how could he even hide behind the excuse of “not being in control of the situation” when he chose to hold the mic and keep his audience captive even if they risked their healthy lives about him, some without masks or face shields and in complete abandon of social distancing protocols?

Spox Roque might have missed the World Health Organization (WHO) advice, so we’re spelling it out clearly in this corner. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said leaders worldwide are “expected to be models” in observing the “non-pharmaceutical interventions such as wearing of face mask, observing hand hygiene, and physical distancing of one meter”.

Dr. Michael J. Ryan, chief executive director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, was more admonishing: “Populations need very clear, credible, regular communication regarding what to do. No matter what it says on the posters and no matter what it says in the guidance, if that behavior is not being modeled by leaders and influencers, populations get confused and the issue becomes politicized.”

Politicized is precisely what it is if Roque’s irresponsible demeanor in public continues without reprimand. Sure, there were reminders issued by Interior Sec. Eduardo Ano and Health Sec. Francisco Duque III that threw shade on his actions in Bantayan. But is that it? I guess that’s a clear and obvious pass – in the same token as Sen. Manny Pacquiao not being blamed for the crowds that gathered for his relief goods distribution in Batangas or Gen. Debold Sinas rising to PNP Chief despite his “mañanita” lockdown party.

We live in dangerous times for sure, if these are the officials we look upon as models as we celebrate the coming holidays. Doomed to a second wave of COVID-19 infections is what we’re bound for at the start of 2021 if such officials are our models.

 *              *              *

SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View. Read current and past issues of this column at https://thephilbiznews.com

The original meaning of DDS is Davao Death Squad, the alleged vigilante group of President Rodrigo Duterte back when he was still Mayor of Davao. Today, however, DDS is generally accepted as the abbreviation for Duterte Diehard Supporters, the term coined and popularized by Duterte ally and celebrity blogger Mocha Uson, who initially used it as a term of endearment for her millions of followers, who are incidentally also her fellow Duterte supporters (mga ka-DDS). It was a subtle yet effective way to make people forget of the negative, murderous associations of the three letters to Duterte’s alleged history of human rights abuses during his time as local chief executive of Davao City.

The gimmicky, catchy political strategy was a resounding success. The days when DDS was tantamount to nefarious activities and vigilante killings carried out by Duterte’s secret police against crime and drug suspects are long gone. Today, DDS has become the identifying tag for the collective millions, who see no evil and hear no evil—a badge of honor for card-carrying members of the “Duterte is the best President in the Solar System” Political Tribe.

It doesn’t matter if you or I know that it’s a diversionary tactic, and it doesn’t matter whether you or I think that being branded as a DDS is derogatory and a pejorative for hyperpartisan “Dudirty” politics. What matters is that most have forgotten, and some don’t even know, that the original meaning of DDS is Davao Death Squad, and that Duterte used to be referred to as THE DEATH SQUAD PRESIDENT.

They have managed to turn DDS, for Davao Death Squad, into an insignificant footnote in history; DDS, for Duterte Diehard Supporters, is now the trending topic, the headline, the present, and the significant, ALL CAPS future.

And that, my (D)EAREST (D)EMOCRACY (S)UPPORTERS, is how a simple and subtle play with words could rehabilitate the reputation of some bloodthirsty, authoritarian monster into this salt-of-the-earth, authoritative father of the nation. That is how is how those (D)ICTATOR (D)UTERTE (S)PIN-DOCTORS overhauled—seemingly revamped overnight—the image of a reviled and feared human rights trampler and cold-blooded killer into a beloved and revered crime-busting, “My-God-I-Hate-Drugs” national figure. They wrapped Duterte inside this box of non-threatening, profanity-laced, ribbon-tied neat package; promoted him vigorously; and sold him into what we know as “TATAY DIGONG,” the man who could do no wrong.

If you ask any Filipino to name some people who rabidly defend Duterte, you would most likely get the most expected and obvious choices: Harry Roque, Salvador Panelo, Teddy Boy Locsin, Jose Calida, and of course, Mocha Uson. They are THE top alter egos of the President–all major Duterte government appointees.

You would probably also get names like Larry Gadon, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Ferdinand Topacio, Thinking Pinoy, Sass Sasot, Banat By, Robin Padilla, and Vivian Velez — the usual suspects of media personalities, whose vigorous, dogged, unwavering vote of confidence and impassioned, vocal defenses for Duterte never cease to amaze and appall me.

They are not just your garden-variety fanatical online trolls, or your run-of-the-mill Duterte Diehard Supporters. They are the real DDS – (D)IVERT and (D)EFLECT (S)TRATEGISTS.

The Philippines has been under some form of COVID19 Lockdown since March 20, 2020. Initially, the entire country was placed under a 2-month Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), wherein movement and travel were strictly regulated and limited in order to contain & curb the rise of CoronaVirus cases.

It was–no argument there–a necessary, internationally accepted public health response to a global pandemic caused by a novel virus that swiftly multiplies and infects hundreds of thousands of people within just a few short months. But almost five months later since ECQ, we are still nowhere anywhere near declaring our country COVID-free.

After giving Duterte emergency powers and handing him over P200B of emergency funds, and after borrowing $500M from the World Bank, which was meant for COVID19 operations, the Philippines has just been reported to have the highest number of COVID19 cases in Southeast Asia—now surpassing Indonesia.

Well, no surprise there.

We have Duterte as the sitting President; Francisco Q. Duque III as Health Secretary; Harry Roque as Presidential Spokesperson; and the likes of Mocha Uson, Banat By, Thinking Pinoy, Mark Lopez, and Sass Sasot as an alternative source of news for a gullible public; and most shocking and worse of all, we have Vince Dizon, an economist, as Testing Czar.

No wonder, the Philippines has now surpassed the 100,000-mark. And no wonder, we are still seeing a huge spike in cases almost five months later—with barely a sliver of light at the end of this dark, cavernous tunnel.

And no, it is not because Filipinos are pasaway—but because this Administration does not seem to care that much about our “buhay.”

Because if they truly care about public health safety and the preservation of each and every Filipino life, they would have actually banned travel from China during the start of the outbreak in Wuhan City. I mean, even a 2nd Grader knows that mitigation and prevention are always better than cure.

And instead of prioritizing the shutdown of ABS-CBN today, when we actually need more mainstream news networks disseminating—in real-time—life-saving, timely, COVID19-related updates and news, they should have put their personal vendetta, or their selfish interests, aside for the greater good. Instead of constantly gaslighting the people by calling them undisciplined, incorrigible, or irresponsible, they should have made sure that every poor household would each receive the P5,000-P8,000 financial support (Social Amelioration Program) from the Administration, so nobody would go out to look for food for their families. Instead of hiring a political consultant and economic adviser as Secretary of “Mass Testing” for a portion of the population, they should have appointed ANY qualified epidemiological clinician, whose ACTUAL EXPERTISE is related to VIRUSES and ENDEMICS.

And instead of confusing the public by renaming the term “mass testing” into “extended targeted testing (because the term mass testing supposedly–according to Harry Roque—makes many people to expect that almost the Administration would conduct COVID19 tests on almost the entire Philippine population), they should have just used those precious time pussyfooting and spouting nonsense ACTUALLY setting up more accredited lab testing sites, rounding up symptomatic people and PUMs/PUIs, and getting them ACTUALLY TESTED. Instead of appointing an economist to head the Testing of a good fraction of the Philippine population, they should have actually appointed a REAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST from the Bureau of Epidemiology in the Department of Health, or a Professor of Epidemiology from a reputable university.

As of this writing, there are now 119, 460 confirmed COVID19 cases, and 2,150 deaths, here in the Philippines. The sad thing is, I cannot even say I’m shocked. Because when you have a bunch of NON-EXPERTS running the show when the situation calls for TRUE BLUE EXPERTISE, this is what happens.

A few days ago, Secretary Vince Dizon actually said that the reason why there are now more confirmed cases of COVID19, is because the Philippines has ramped up mass testing. He says we have now been testing up to 50,000 people a day.

While it is commendable that we have finally begun conducting many tests per day—Dizon’s logic—well, not that much. The thing is, the most probable reason why there are now more confirmed cases of COVID19 cases, is because the Administration’s diversionary tactics and weapons of MASS DISTRACTION have caused so much delays and setbacks in mitigating the spread of the pandemic.

Instead of minimizing, fighting, and decimating the virus, they have been too busy—and still busy—reacting to the criticisms of activists, journalists, critics, key Opposition leaders, and ABS-CBN celebrities. I mean, the Administration seems to be more concerned about saving face rather than—you know–ACTUALLY SAVING LIVES.

AND IT WOULD RATHER APPOINT AN ECONOMIST, WHO HAS NO BACKGROUND, NO MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND NO QUALIFICATION TO HANDLE A VERY IMPORTANT JOB MEANT SOLELY FOR REAL EPIDEMIOLOGISTS.

It’s a shame that the Philippines celebrated as Asia’s “First Democracy”, received a lecture about freedom of speech from a tiny island-state like Taiwan.

The issue: Labor Attaché Fidel Macauyag of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Taichung pressed for the deportation of Filipino caregiver Elanel Ordidor for expressing her disappointment at the Duterte administration’s response to the pandemic.

POLO even threatened the OFW of three years with a cyber libel case if she did not post a video on social media apologizing to President Duterte for her “nasty and malevolent” statements that “maligned and discredited” the Chief Executive, and “destabilized” his administration.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Ordidor’s deportation, saying that workers enjoyed “citizen treatment”. It meant that even overseas workers’ rights and interests were “protected by relevant laws and regulations, including freedom of speech, which should be respected by governments of all countries”.

It added that “no person or institution, in this case, has the right to pressure her, her employer, or broker, nor shall she be deported without consultations held between both governments.”

Really, it’s sad to see a foreign government protecting the rights of a Filipino worker, which should have been the role of our own democratic government.

Macauyag is no different from the bootlicking Manuelito Luna, the commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, whom the President sacked for pushing an investigation against Vice President Leni Robredo’s relief efforts during the coronavirus outbreak.

The attache took it upon himself to press for Ordidor’s deportation even though, according to Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chairperson Lito Banayo, there was no request for such from the government.

Both Macauyag and Luna were overzealous in sucking it up to Duterte.

The President should let Macauyag keep Luna company.

*              *              *

And here comes returning Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque making matters worse when he mentioned Taiwan is part of China in a statement relating to Ordidor’s case.

“We leave that wholly to the decision of Taiwan and China. Taiwan is part of China,” Roque said.

“My country expresses strong dissatisfaction and high regret over Philippine government officials wrongly accusing Taiwan as part of China,” Taiwan foreign ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou stated as the ministry instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines to protest the matter with Manila.

While it is true that the Philippines, like other countries, follows the “One-China policy”, which considers the Republic of China-controlled Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China, the loquacious Roque should have been smart enough to remain silent on this aspect.

Would it have hurt if he said: “We leave that wholly to the decision of Taiwan,” period?

*              *              *

SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View. Read current and past issues of this column at https://thephilbiznews.com

While there are so many versions on Presidential mouthpiece Harry Roque’s resignation, President Rodrigo Duterte disclosed that Roque threatened to resign after he was kept in the dark about the Chief Executive’s hospital visit last October 3.

The President admitted this after he mentioned Roque as one of the possible Cabinet members who will be running for the 2019 midterm elections.

Duterte explained, “Kasi hindi ko man maintindihan. So I’m giving that margin of safety. Kasi sabi niya mag-resign siya because he didn’t know that I was in the hospital. So he was not informed. Hindi naman kailangan sabihin ko lahat eh. There are things which are limited to the immediate members of the family.”

Duterte said it was so easy for him to let go of Roque when the spokesperson informed him of his decision.

“Ang sabi niya, mag-resign siya. Sabi ko ‘di sige. Then immediately I chose his replacement but I cannot tell you now who will take his place”, he added.

Roque felt bad that he was not informed about the hospital visit of the President who underwent medical tests in Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City last week.

THEPHILBIZNEWS is trying to get the rection from Roque but he has not responded to us yet as of this posting.

It was Roque who was ferociously defending the President in all the controversies he got involved with and even burned bridges with his good friend Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV.

There are several names that are floating to replace Roque, one is the archaic former broadcaster Jay Sonza, Duterte’s raving fan and social media defender. But according to THEPHILBIZNEWS source in the Palace who asked not to be named that amongst the people close with the President nobody likes Sonza because of his lack of credibility and integrity and he could not match the wit and eloquence of Roque.