Duterte’s first year

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the most controversial chief executive in the country’s history who enjoys the widest support (so far) from the masses because of his populist views, has been in office for a year.

The following are my personal observations on how President Digong has fared:

On peace and order, the President is tops in my book.

Criminals, especially street thugs and drug pushers, are on the run because many of them have been exterminated like termites.

But the big fish—convicted drug lords at New Bilibid Prison and politicians involved in drugs—have not been eliminated and continue to wreak havoc on society.

Yes, the streets have become relatively safer from ordinary criminals, but not from abusive policemen.

The Philippine National Police continues to be a haven for criminals in uniform because its chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, acts like a clown in public.

The President might want to replace Dela Rosa with somebody who would instill fear among the PNP rank and file and make them toe the line.

Gen. Eduardo Año, who was slated to become secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) but was recalled as Armed Forces Chief of Staff to quell the rebellion in Marawi City, would be better as defense secretary or national security adviser.

Año is a complete stranger to the ways of the PNP, composed mostly of corrupt and abusive members.

Catalino Cuy, who is acting secretary of the DILG until Año takes over the post, would make a better DILG chief since he is a retired police general and knows a policeman from head to toe.

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Some Cabinet members are engaged in infighting and intrigues.

The public was witness to this spectacle when Gina Lopez’s appointment as environment secretary was not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments because a fellow Cabinet member opposed it.

Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, a very self-effacing man, doesn’t see eye to eye with the diminutive Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, whose ego is as tall as the tallest building on Ayala Avenue.

Another Cabinet official should be made to shut up and leave the defense of the President to Ernesto Abella, the presidential spokesperson, on matters of public relations and perception.

The concerned Cabinet official should instead work hand in hand with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on legal matters.

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The President has sent a clear message among his subordinates that he would kick out officials on a mere “whiff or whisper” of being corrupt.

But why is corruption still prevalent at the Bureau of Customs?

The President would be well-advised to send counterintelligence agents to work undercover at the bureau as his eyes and ears.

He would know that bribe-giving and -taking at the customs bureau is worse now than before retired military officers took over the reins of the agency.