Contradictions lead to uncertainty

SHARING his thoughts as he has them, without much of a filter to spare anyone’s feelings, has characterized President Rodrigo Duterte’s communication skills, a refreshing departure from the careful indirectness of most politicians. In recent weeks, however, his “unscripted” approach has raised concern over his policy inconsistency, with at least three significant reversals of his stand on issues noted so far.

One was the President’s cancellation of an order of 26,000 assault rifles from the US for the Philippine National Police, a decision that was more or less aligned with his antagonism toward all things American. He reversed that decision and allowed the sale to proceed, however, after the unexpected US presidential election of Republican Donald Trump, a guy toward whom Duterte seems to feel some affinity.