Presidential son Paolo “Pulong” Duterte resigned as vice mayor of Davao City back on December 25, 2017 after being embroiled in controversy after controversy in social media. Duterte cited the reasons for tendering his resignation: his alleged smuggling of P6.4-billion worth of shabu in the Bureau of Customs, his failed marriage from his first wife Lovelie, and his public squabble with daughter Isabelle.

Duterte has been out of the limelight since then, deactivating his official Facebook account and apparently disappearing without a trace from the face of Facebook. This February, however, he resurfaced on the social media site with an overhaul in the tone and themes of his posts.

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Duterte first made his comeback known in Feb. 3 when he posted a picture of him wearing a skeleton handkerchief covering the lower part of his face. On the same day, he uploaded an illustration calling for the downfall of the liberal party and the communists. It can be noted that his Facebook account is still labaled “Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte – Official.”

The faces of Sen. Leila De Lima, former President Benigo “Noynoy” Aqino III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Sen. Antonio Trillanes III, Sen. Isa Hentiveros, Sen. Bam Aquino and Communist Party of the Philippines founder Joma Sison were identified in the illustration posted. It also included the GABRIELA Women’s Party, AKBAYAN and the Kabataan Partylist, among others.

Duterte then wrote that he didn’t include vice president Leni Robredo because she is special. “Wala si Madam Leni kasi Special siya kaya special din para sa kanya (I did not include Madame Leni because she is special, so something special is set for her),” said Duterte. “Ang anakbayan na anak ng teteng hintay kayo (watch out for this “anakbayan na anak ng teteng”)… wag kalimutan wala akong trabaho (don’t forget that I got no job)… kayo lang trabahuin ko (I will work on all of you).”

In another comment, he called for Duterte supporters to punch politicians they are angry at, or those who they think didn’t do anything, like the Liberal Party.

In other posts, Duterte shared memes attacking Jover Laurio, the woman behind the Pinoy Ako Blog. He also didn’t let Rappler journalist Pia Ranada, out of his sight, as he targeted her with another meme. He used the hashtags #eatshitanddie and #GalawDilaw in his posts successively.

Last Feb. 24, Duterte also seemingly mocked the 32nd commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution, when he wrote “PEOPLE WERLA” and “WERLA WERPA” in one Facebook post. He explained in the comments section that werla means “going insane” or “going gaga.”

In a post made last Feb. 20, on the other hand, Duterte shared a picture of the late former President Corazon Aquino during the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986. It said, “The commemoration of Edsa is a reminder of a broken promise 30 years since. 2 Aquinos and the corruption that prevailed. #GalawDilaw.”

Duterte then took a swipe at Kris Aquino, writing, “Oo nga no…. sorry krissy ha wag magdrama…. laro nalang PS4… #eatshitanddie.” (Oh yes, sorry Krissy, don’t be dramatic, just play PS4. #eatshitanddie)

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In response Aquino addressed him directly on her official Twitter account yesterday.

“This is a message to #PaoloDuterte, you mentioned me in your post by name & i feel it is only proper to reply,” wrote Aquino. “May I invite you to have coffee or we can have a San Mig if that is your preference, hindi ako ‘mag da-drama‘ pag nagkaharap na tayo (I will not be dramatic when we get to meet).”

Duterte thus far has not replied to Aquino’s message.

This is a message to #PaoloDuterte, you mentioned me in your post by name & i feel it is only proper to reply. May i invite you to have coffee or we can have a San Mig if that is your preference, hindi ako “mag da-drama” pag nagkaharap na tayo pic.twitter.com/K6SDjoMuKh — Kris Aquino (@krisaquino214) February 26, 2018

It would appear that Duterte’s endeavors have changed course in the past two months. Now that he is no longer bound by propriety in conduct, and expectations and responsibilities that come with being a public official, he seems to have embraced his newfound freedom and leeway in expressing his personal and political opinions.

It can be noted, too, that Paolo was with his sister Mayor of Davao City Sara Duterte and brother Sebastian “Baste” in the civic rallies of the pro-Duterte collective Tapang at Malasakit Alliance held in Macau and Hong Kong last Feb. 24 and 25, respectively; Feb. 25 was the same day of the commemoration of the EDSA Revolution. Their father President Rodrigo Duterte, however, was a no-show in said celebrations. JB

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