‘Defend to the bones’

Herbie Gomez

“I believed my dear leader could read my mind, I thought if I thought a bad thing he could punish me.” –Yeonmi Park, a North Korean defector

THE controversial press conferences in Davao last week reminded me of the cold and vicious naval base commander Col. Nathan Jessup, the character played by Jack Nicholson in the 1992 legal drama “A Few Good Men.” The film revolves around the death of a young Marine as a result of a secret extrajudicial disciplinary punishment known as “Code Red” that was carried out by two other young soldiers. The subsequent investigation by defense lawyers uncovered a cover-up in order to protect Col. Jessup. Summoned to the witness stand, Jessup, under intense pressure, loses control, shows his true colors as he takes offense at being questioned about how he protects his country, and then admits that he gave the “Code Red” order.

Some of Jessup’s memorable quotes:

• “What do you wanna talk about now? My favorite color?”
• “You want answers? …You can’t handle the truth!”
• “You f^*king people!”

If Hollywood makes a movie about crass and tough-talking President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, consider Nicholson for the role of main antagonist.

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It’s crazy that a simple question about what the next President intends to do to put an end to “media killings” and to bring those responsible to justice ended up becoming a national debate on whether or not there is an excuse for murder, and on whether or not wolf-whistling is a good thing to do to a woman.

If I remember it right, the question on Tuesday was, “What are you going to do about the killings?” By Friday, no one was talking about the senseless murders, the poor victims and the families they left behind.

It’s already bad that our incoming leaders and citizens are buying the idea that there is an excuse for murder. What’s worse is a few media people blaming the media killings on the victims themselves. And so I ask, what is happening to this country?

I’m afraid that our politics is becoming like North Korea’s. There, the brainwashed are told that their leader Kim Jong-un doesn’t pee and poop, and they take it as gospel truth. The only people who revere and “defend to the bones” Kim Jong-un are the brainwashed of North Korea. But the rest of the world thinks their leader is a big joke. Listen to the many Filipinos who are slowly becoming like them today.

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What’s this ridiculous call for Duterte to resign?
Someone who hasn’t assumed office yet cannot resign.

It’s worth noting though that this is the first time in the history of our country that citizens are calling for a President-elect to resign even before he could take over. Brace yourselves, the next six years don’t look good.
Pastilan.