“HE WHO establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak,” Michel de Montagne once said. Or, it is altogether false
“Arrogance comes before the fall, says the Scriptures.
Obviously, President Duterte was impervious to these sayings. Otherwise, he would not have challenged former Supreme Court Justice Antonion Carpio to a debate over the issues on the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea.
When he came to his better sense, which is usually too late, the cat was out of the bag. Typical for a bully to not admit he made a mistake. Better to weasel out of it in some face saving way. Face saving is an authentic Chinese tradition.
Duterte is not the first certified bully of a president in our modern times. His predecessor was Ferdinand Marcos, now buried somewhat asymmetrically in the Libingan ng Mga Bayani. If there was a hint then that anyone was doubting Marcos’ ability to lead, physically or intellectually, he would challenge anyone to a 4-round of boxing on the ring in a “siga’ show of physical and mental toughness. Of course, no one took on his offer.
Duterte is a poor copy cat. Feeling invincible, he challenged Carpio to a debate, after his usually toughie name calling, setting the framework of the contest on three questions he thought he was right on the money.
Carpio took on Duterte’s offer, at his convenience. He was the reigning champ on the hill. It was a lifetime opportunity Carpio could not allow to pass. Everyone looked forward to what could be the debate of the century. It seemed like a proxy debate: China versus the Philippines. The President, who is supposed to be the protector of Philippine sovereignty, versus a former Supreme Court justice, who has been reminding the former of what his job is all about.
The challenge hurled by the country’s top leader already left a bad taste in the mouth. How could he, even assuming Carpio was wrong, defend China’s continuing assault on Philippine territories, even in a public debate?
This is what probably dawned on Duterte or his choir: it’s simply untenable and would have exposed him to legal problems once he got out of office, regardless of who will replace him. Especially, if and when his successor will not be so friendly – both to him and China.
Assigning Harry Roque to replace him in the impending debacle was the next available option to avert a potential disaster. Walking away from a fight he would certainly lose in more ways than one is the certain path of a bully, or a bluff.
So all that ‘hindi patas’ argument of Roque is pure bunkum. Duterte was the source of his own problem, not Carpio. Why blame the latter? Hubris is all of a piece with bullying. Who better shows this than Roque doubling down on his new found role as Duterte’s proxy by adding former Philippine ambassador Alberto del Rosario in the two-versus-one showcase. Roque fell flat on his face: Carpio isn’t interested in pointless, bloviating lawyers or lies.
Duterte’s retreat was big setback for a wrong cause. He was wrong in his pronouncements about the West Philippine Sea, even calling the Arbitral Award as a scrap of paper. He was already veering away from the Consitutional path he should faithfully navigate as the Philippine president, even if some think he’s not the leader.
The morning after the debate was scuttled, the country’s assertion of its rights in the disputed territories have become stronger — not only in words but in deed. As military leaders talk of maintaining protective posture over those territories in no uncertain, ungarbledlanguage, ships of the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries, with Philippine Navy ships shadowing them, are shooing away Chinese vessels sailing or straying on the Philippine side.
Most have moved away, albeit reluctantly.
We have won a meaningful victory without firing a shot at the bow of any Chinese vessel. Thanks to President Duterte who probably told his idol, Xi Ping, that the debate he had in mind was not winnable.
As a result of the post non-debate tantrum. Duterte is back to his old self: kick the poor and powerless in the butt. So the police are now ordered to arrest those who are not wearing their face mask properly. Small price to pay for winning back the debate on who’s right about the West Philippine Sea. Even Cel Diokno can show off his buck tooth now with awide grin from ear to ear in public. If he gets the cheap shot from Malacanang, just consider the source.
But a caveat: he who fights and runsaway, lives to fight another day. It’s conceivable now that the President and his choir are frantically regrouping how to get back more strongly, more convincingly in the nocturnal mutual massaging that the public has been wearied of and annoyed endlessly. That’s how modern day heroes like Secretary Francisco Duque are made.
Most likely it’s going to be a p.r. tact. China is a good friend, a generous donor and a benevolent benefactor. Damage control, in light of the debate that never was. No more debate.
