Digong cracks jokes to lighten NSC meet mood

GRAVE MATTERS, COMIC FLAIR To lighten up the five-hour National Security Council meeting on Wednesday, President Duterte used his famous comic flair, at one time spicing up the serious discussion with a reference to “the beautiful Vice President,” Leni Robredo, seated beside him. OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

It may have been a long and serious meeting that mixed former leaders with unresolved issues between them, but President Duterte had a not-so-secret weapon up his sleeve to brighten up the room: his comic flair.

Known for his casual style and preference for the informal, Mr. Duterte steered the more than five-hour National Security Council meeting on Wednesday with jokes and ad libs, lightening up the atmosphere even as discussions dealt with some of the country’s gravest problems, said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Similar to the playful mien he showed during his first State of the Nation Address on Monday, the President unleashed antics that kept the meeting vibrant even in the presence of former officials who are no longer in speaking terms: former Presidents Benigno Aquino III and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative.

Exchanging jokes

“It was nice. [Those present] were very friendly. We were laughing. We exchanged jokes. But chiefly, it was President Duterte who made the jokes,” Aguirre told reporters on Thursday.

Asked what some of the jokes were, the justice secretary, who was sworn to secrecy about Wednesday night’s proceedings, shared one.

Beautiful Vice President

“His joke was that our Vice President is beautiful,” said Aguirre, in reference to Vice President Leni Robredo.

It had taken a while for Mr. Duterte to meet with Robredo after their respective electoral victories in May. Things warmed up between the two when they first met at the military’s change of command ceremonies on July 1, when a seemingly smitten Mr. Duterte even offered hanky-holding Robredo his coco water.

Six days later, Mr. Duterte called Robredo in a nationally broadcast PTV 4 interview and offered her the housing portfolio.

No greeting

Asked about the dynamics between Aquino and Arroyo, Aguirre said: “They didn’t say anything awkward [to each other]. They just didn’t greet each other.”

Footage of the encounter showed the cold relationship between Aquino and Arroyo. The latter was released recently after the Supreme Court dismissed  plunder charges filed against her during the former’s term. Throughout his six years in Malacañang, Aquino often attributed the country’s problems to Arroyo.

No sitting order

Aguirre said there was protocol observed in the way the four leaders were seated from across Mr. Duterte, but it was clear they were not positioned according to their terms in office, as Arroyo was seated two places away from Aquino, with former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada between them.

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who was seated to Arroyo’s left, said  he “did not notice” the dynamics between Arroyo and Aquino.

“The atmosphere was serious, but then the President had his way of lightening the atmosphere,” Pimentel said.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, among those invited to the meeting, said Mr. Duterte shifted from serious to comical during the meeting.

“He can be focused one moment and funny the next. It is both educational and entertaining. This guy’s thought process is good. He knows when to summarize points and where to shepherd the discussion,” Recto said, complimenting the President.

Recto said that as much as Mr. Duterte gave “great inputs,” he was also the source of “in-house entertainment.

“To break the monotony of long meetings, [Wednesday’s] was almost five hours long, he has this comedian’s gift of timing on when to crack jokes,” he said.

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