President Rodrigo Duterte made a blunder by cussing another head of state, for which he has already apologized.

This is an appeal to my compatriots—especially fellow journalists—to not aggravate the presidential faux pas by writing or commenting about it over and over again while Mr. Duterte is in Laos.

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Let’s withhold criticism over the unfriendly remarks Digong made against US President Barack Obama while the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is going on.

Let’s wait for him to come back.

Even if you hate Digong, his embarrassment is an embarrassment for the whole country as well.

For once in our life, let’s be patriots.

* * *

Many people, apparently “yellows” or supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas, gloat over the bombing in Davao City that killed 14 people and wounded scores of others.

These gloaters comment in their Facebook accounts that Davao City is not one of the safest cities in the world after all, as the then Mayor and now President Digong claims.

A person who finds joy in the misfortune of his neighbor suffers the same fate at some later time.

That is the way of the Universe.

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* * *

Digong’s Cabinet can’t seem to put their acts together over the embarrassing incident in Laos.

While Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that Mr. Duterte wanted to reassure the United States that our country values its friendship, the presidential chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, accused the US of “misreading” our President’s comments.

While the Department of Foreign Affairs attempted damage control by saying Mr. Duterte was looking forward to “ironing out differences” with Obama, Labor Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello said Obama is a “lame-duck” president.

Ano ba talaga, mga kuya? Are we apologizing or rationalizing?

If we are apologizing then let’s be contrite and stop making excuses.

* * *

By the way, Andanar should scold Panelo for assuming the job of presidential spokesperson.

Making announcements in behalf of the President is Andanar’s job and that of Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

Andanar, a Cabinet member, can tell off Panelo since he outranks the blabbering presidential legal counsel.

Panelo’s rank is a notch below that of a Cabinet member.

* * *

Airline passengers now have a better option than riding a taxicab from or to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

The UBE Express, owned by Air21, started servicing arriving or departing passengers at the four Naia terminals by fielding new Mercedes-Benz buses.

The UBE Express routes are Naia to Makati, Roxas Boulevard and Entertainment City, where there are hotels and bus terminals along the way.

UBE Express offers more convenience and safety than riding a taxi since many cab drivers are reckless and arrogant.

Bert Lina, Air21 owner, answered the call from the Department of Transportation for a better transport service to and from Naia.

* * *

Judicious Philip Aguinaldo is not if his decision on a rape case is to be a basis.

Aguinaldo is a judge in the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court.

Aguinaldo acquitted Angelo Lopez, a known drug pusher in his neighborhood, of the charge of raping his wife’s 12-year-old niece.

The “brilliant” judge gave more weight to Lopez’s claim of an alibi, that he was not home when the child was raped on different dates.

The victim positively identified Lopez as her assailant.

As every first-year law student knows, positive identification by a victim trumps the defense of alibi by the accused.

How did Aguinaldo pass the Bar exams?

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