PRESIDENTIAL FLIP-FLOPS

FLIP-FLOPS ARE favored footwear in the Philippines. No one really cares much anymore that people wear them to church or to restaurants.

Flip-flops as a policy style however is a different matter altogether.

Everything that a president says can be interpreted as policy. But Mr. Duterte does not seem to care that he has on too many occasions spoken to soon, with little care or caution.

A statement uttered on impulse has been taken back quite quickly, sometimes within 24 hours, as his decision to quit the UN was withdrawn the following day. He made a colorful boast during his campaign, saying he would jet-ski to the Spratlys to plant the Filipino flag on the shoals also claimed by China. But his presidency has withdrawn from the ASEAN front to push back China’s claims, and has devoted much time cozying up to Chinese officials, giving much away by simply not doing anything about protecting Philippine territory.

The president can change his mind. He can take a well-considered stand and explain a policy shift. But on serious matters, the thoughtless flip-flop is out of place. He can think out policy which means he is familiar with the tradeoffs involved in a plan of action. But to blurt out a threat of action without thinking is not what a president does. The people who elected him deserve better.

Should we try to figure out what’s on his mind?

Then Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the press should use their creative imagination to understand what the president means. But an advice from the present official says: Do not take him literally, but you must take him seriously.

Clearly, Mr. Duterte does not have the gift of language, with which to express nuanced positions. So, he would rather shock and offend, express anger, spitting out insults and be seemingly proud of it, like a goon. It is a bit difficult to figure out when to take him seriously.

But it is a serious problem. And it becomes “seriouser” and “seriouser” when no one seems to want to expose the flaw for what it might be — that Rodrigo Duterte does not know what he does not know, that the president has come quite unprepared for the burden of responsibility that comes with the office he now occupies.

I’M POOR, NO I’M NOT.