‘Shoot me, Duterte’ challenge

P-Noy wanted to avenge Ninoy’s murder-headline.

Would he have become President if he had given vent to his vengeful rage?

Look where the survivors of the martyred Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino are now.

Look where the Marcoses are now. They’re back in power, but it’s doubtful if one of them could ever set foot in Malacañang again.

* * *

The words of my journalism colleague, the late Teddy Africa, during the euphoria of the Edsa Revolution of 1986 still ring in my memory.

I covered the momentous event for the Manila Bulletin while Africa covered it for the now defunct Times Journal from start to finish.

Teddy and I were with the Edsa crowd when news of the departure of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his family was received with jubilation.

Teddy said: “The oppressed will soon become the oppressors. The people who now decry the corruption of the Marcoses will themselves become corrupt.”

Indeed, Teddy’s words were prophetic.

* * *

Months after the installation of the Cory Aquino government, the “yellow army,” as the supporters of Cory were known, went on a rampage.

They destroyed or plundered all mansions, houses and resorts belonging to the Marcoses when they could have saved them for posterity or as a reminder of the greed of the previous administration.

Most of the people who were appointed to public offices as OICs (officers-in-charge) turned out to be as corrupt as, or more corrupt than, those they replaced.

Some of them, who joined marches and demonstrations denouncing the abuses of the Marcos government, are still around stealing people’s money.

* * *

One of the remnants of the yellow army is a “people’s lawyer” who I saw at anti-Marcos rallies on Mendiola.

I was a police reporter for the most part of the martial law regime and one of my duties was covering rallies and demonstrations against Marcos.

I noticed this lawyer because his signature shirt was a faded or dirty white polo “barong” over jeans.

What I remember most about this lawyer is that his shirt had a dirty collar, an indication that he kept wearing the same shirt without washing it.

He claimed then as he claims now that he belongs to the working class or the poor.

This lawyer, who now holds an important government post, is now filthy rich. As in, filthy lucre because it’s stolen.

Where else could he have acquired such wealth on his salary?

* * *

Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte’s threat to shoot anyone who prods him to run for President in 2016 is being taken as a challenge, and there are many takers.

I dare Duterte to shoot me for publicly prodding him to run for President.

Actor Edu Manzano sent me a text message, saying, “Can I sign up for the SHOOT ME, DUTERTE! petition?”

My reply: “Sure you can, dude, but you’ll have to queue up because it’s a long, long line.”

The “Shoot me, Duterte!” challenge has gone viral. Cemeteries will be full, if the controversial mayor makes good his threat.

Many Duterte supporters in Davao City will soon be wearing T-shirts with the words, “Pusila ko, Duterte (Shoot me)!” emblazoned on them.