Duterte assault takes the cake

Letter to the Editor

AS lady candidate, Roman Catholic and lawyer, though not a devout or perfect one, I cannot remain silent in the face of Rodrigo Duterte’s uncivilized remarks about the Pope, the brutal way by which he would cleanse society of criminals in total disregard of due process, and his braggadocio about being a womanizer.

His vulgar statement before the public, and the laughter of the latter, is indeed a reflection of our politics and society today. It was shocking, unacceptable, and must be fearlessly condemned and I would not hesitate for a moment taking the risk of losing supporters who might have a soft heart for Duterte. I would rather lose in an election, than be a silent observer and conspirator of vulgarity and uncivilized behavior personified. We cannot allow our own imperfections as a shield and license for Duterte’s abuse.

We have had too much uncivilized behavior and culture already. The Ampatuan massacre, the rise of terrorism, the daily assassinations by motorcycleiding men, the rapes and murders we are seeing everyday, the shameless landgrabbing of farmers’ lands, massive vote-buying every election time,  the culture of vulgarity and unrefined language being propagated by mainstream media to promote commercial and advertising interests at all cost, and brazen graft and corruption by public officials—are too much already.

Locally, we are even witnessing the brazen and uncivilized way by which tribal schools are burned and tribal officials are brutally killed, and the repeated and shameless illegal quarrying of San Miguel Village at Lapasan which has endangered the homes and lives of the villagers, despite the stoppage order by the mayor and Clenro, repeatedly done in the presence of the Ampatuan-like police authorities who did not even bother to arrest the backhoe operators or to stop the illegal excavation which could the collapse of the hill and the burying alive of the villagers.

What takes the cake is Duterte’s assault on the Pope–who is revered by all, not for any ceremonial or sentimental reason, but as a symbol of the world’s desire for peace, justice, fairness and civilized behavior.

From all indications, this early, Duterte’s only option are either to quit running for presidency, or to ask forgiveness and repent. Koko Pimentel, Alan Cayetano and others cannot be so stupid as to become apologists of Duterte. His statements and actions speak for itself. —Evangeline Tadlas-Carrasco, lawyer and candidate for congresswoman in Cagayan de Oro’s 2nd District