I remember the last half of PNoy’s term. People threw a lot of questions at his admin, practically at every move and turn. Zamboanga Siege, Mamasapano, MRT, Yolanda, to name a few incidents/issues. There was even a hashtag that trended #NasaanAngPangulo to emphasize PNoy’s supposed absence or lack of action on the pressing issue of the day. Up to now, some folks still toss the same questions despite the fact that answers have already been given and recorded in legitimate websites and news sources. Barely two years into his term, Duterte has done or not done so much that elicited more questions but it seems that few journalists/bloggers are asking obvious questions and taking him to task to reply. His rants (which is how his tempos sound every time he is allowed to stay behind a podium far too long) don’t answer but rather compound issues and elicit more questions. But who is actually listening to his speeches recently when he has become like a broken record or a CD on repeat play?

If you can, please answer the following for the President:

Where did he really go on June 12, 2017? Why was he gone for more than a week and his SPOX just said it was private time? A president, I suppose, can’t have that too stretched a private time. That was more than a week. And no convincing explanation was offered. Why does he always praise China even if another country has done more to help the Philippines? He has insisted that it was the Chinese that donated weapons that killed the leaders of the Maute terrorist group that ravaged Marawi. Why does he appear to be so beholden to China? Why does he change his statement every so often? He denies ordering the killings of drug dealers and then a few speeches later he encourages the police to kill anyone who try to fight back? Is he not aware that all his speeches are on video, or at the very least, transcribed by news agencies? Why does he not restrain his language if only for the sake of young people in the audience? He obviously loves his grandchildren. Does he not care for Filipinos their age? Why continue cursing and disparaging otherwise respectable “enemies”? Does he hate Catholics that much that he doesn’t care if they get offended when he vilifies the Pope? Why does he hate human rights and their advocates? As president who swears to caring so much for his constituents, why is he so threatened by CHR , UNCHR and their representatives? What’s with appointing the obviously inept to sensitive posts? Political debt payment? Or is he so insecure of the more intelligent choices? It is also not encouraging the young to persevere when a president is too proud of his low grades and his erratic behavior as student. Why the hate on De Lima, Sereno, Carpio-Morales? These are decent and intelligent women in government. If he really wanted good governance and a better life for Filipinos, he would appreciate these public servants. Why is he not proud of the drug bust, the biggest ever, IIRC, at the BOC? That should make him brag that his War on Drugs is working and is a huge success. Why so cold towards it? Why emphasize that he is not into this presidency that much and he is willing to resign anytime and yet he doesn’t? And finally, why make Ferdinand Marcos Sr. a hero by allowing him space at LNMB? Did he consider winning the presidency as a license to insult history and the Filipino memory?

If many were so eager to make PNoy and his official family answer so many questions during and after his term, why are there not enough people calling out and questioning the current dispensation? What has become of us, Filipinos that we have suddenly chosen to grow cold towards brazen attacks on our posterity, sensibility and fundamental rights? Kindly answer that, too. I could go on and on. There are just too many questions begging for answers. #

PhilippineOne is actively accepting articles in Tagalog or English from Filipinos and/or expats living in the Philippines. Get published today on any subject you feel like writing about. Send your articles to info@philippineone.com with a brief description.