Controversial Rody gives yet another preview of his style

DAVAO CITY—For over an hour on Monday night, presumptive President-elect Rodrigo  Duterte gave another preview of what could be a most controversial and unpredictable administration.

Duterte said he would allow the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani, grant pardon to detained former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, legalize medicinal marijuana, and approve a three-child policy using family planning methods frowned upon by the Catholic Church.

The outspoken Davao City mayor notorious for his lengthy and invective-laced speeches also said his inaugural speech would last only five minutes and that there was no need for him to practice for the momentous event.

“Just tell me where to stand,” Duterte said, adding in jest that he would fly to Manila for oath-taking on June 30, “but if the flight is delayed, bahala kayo dyan (that’s your problem).”

He also wants to wear something made of cotton, rather than the customary barong Tagalog because “it’s itchy,” the incoming President said, warning guests that only finger food will be served for the event, “and no eating after.”

Marcos burial

Duterte said he would allow the burial of President Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani, “not because he (was) a hero, but because he was a Filipino soldier,” adding that the contentious issue “has long  created a division among our people.”

Anti-Marcos groups have cited massive graft and human rights abuses during  martial law as reasons for refusing him burial in the 142-hectare cemetery in Taguig City where some of the country’s leaders are buried.

After Marcos was brought home following his 1989 death in exile in Hawaii, his embalmed body has been on display inside a refrigerated crypt in his hometown in Ilocos.

Marijuana

In that Monday night press briefing, Duterte also said he was for the legalization of medicinal  marijuana which, he said, was already an ingredient of modern medicine.

In 2014, a bill was filed in Congress calling for the legalization of marijuana use for patients who have incapacitating  illnesses.

The Department of Health vowed to study the proposal which has both supporters and detractors among medical  professionals.

Duterte, however, clarified that he would push for stricter regulation to ensure that medicinal marijuana would be offered only to those who really needed it.

Arroyo pardon

The Davao City mayor said he had offered pardon to former President Arroyo, who has been on hospital arrest for plunder charges in connection with the alleged misuse of P366 million in intelligence funds from the Philippine Charity  Sweepstakes Office.

“I said  ‘Ma’am, you want me to pardon you? It’s not because we are friends but because I do not think that there is a good case against you,”’ Duterte said of his recent phone conversation with Arroyo, who has been reelected Pampanga representative.

But the former President refused the offer because it would require admission of wrongdoing which, she said, she wasn’t guilty of, Duterte said, adding that it was unfair for Arroyo to remain in detention while her coaccused are already out on bail.

Harshest words

But Duterte seemed to have reserved his harshest words for the Catholic Church and its bishops who, he said, were “doing many wrongs,” including “not correcting the abuses of priests,”  so “maybe (people should) stop  listening to them.”

For good measure, he declared that he was thinking of implementing a three-child policy as part of family planning and making available birth control methods, including the use of condoms, which the Catholic Church disapproves of.

A national population policy must be put in place because the country’s resources cannot meet the growing demands of the populace, Duterte said.

But the three-child policy was a mere  suggestion, he said.  “I cannot force the people to follow. We are just suggesting that you are in good hands if you just limit the number of your children.”

Lashing out at Catholic bishops, some of whom received SUVs from then President Arroyo, Duterte barked: “When  have you started using Monteros? Stop making a fool of the Filipinos. You  should be ashamed.”

He added: “You have not done anything. There are so many abuses that the Church has committed. Better go down on bended knees and pray to God and ask pardon  from Filipinos.”

Divisive issue

The Marcos burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani “would erase from amongst our people the hatred,” Duterte said, adding that the burial “can be arranged immediately.”

Earl Parreño, analyst at the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform, said Duterte’s decision to bury Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery would be divisive.

“It’s a wrong move to spend political capital this early when he should be consolidating support,” he said.

Asked if he was ready to face street protests for making such politically sensitive decisions, Duterte said he would allow the rallies, even if they dragged on for weeks.

Duterte said he also planned to release detained communist guerrillas, including Communist Party of the Philippines leaders Benito Tiamzon and his wife, Wilma, to foster peace talks to settle the decades-long Marxist insurgency.  Reports from Karlos Manlupig and Dennis Jay Santos, Inquirer Mindanao; and the wires

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