President Rodrigo Duterte either had ignored or reacted by now to a French publication’s description of him as a “serial killer president”; but while this may no longer surprise him or his followers, the Facebook post of actress Agot Isidro certainly complemented, if not highlighted, the description even more.
In her Facebook post that drew the usual volume of hate posts from Duterte diehards, lapdogs and apologists, the actress blasted President Duterte for picking fights with the US, Europe and other countries that criticized his all-out war on drugs and labeled him a “psychopath.”
Among those who criticized her was a university professor, who lectured her on the President’s independent foreign policy and chided her on her pro-American views and fears that investors may leave the country due to the President’s volatile temper and eagerness to pick fights with everyone including the United Nations (UN).
Another was a militant leader, who ran but lost in the national elections, chiding the actress for her views on the President’s decision to cut ties with the US and European Union in favor of China and Russia by saying that her perspective is limited to the films she’s making and her career as an actress.
Celebrity blogger and avid Duterte supporter Mocha Uson also mocked Isidro’s Facebook post by explaining that her anti-Duterte stance is shaped by her role in a TV series in which she’s the wife of a drug lord, the daughter of another drug lord and the mother of a drug dealer.
We agree with the growing observation on a pattern to the Duterte administration’s and its followers’ individual and collective responses to any criticism leveled at Duterte, including those of the militants who side on anyone who happens to favor and advance their agenda.
The pattern consists of first, insulting the critic on his or her perceived deficiencies both physical and intellectual; then deconstructing, if
any, their arguments and exposing their flaws before ganging up on him, her or them; and delivering their volley of insults to mass effect.
This assault on Isidro also calls to mind the “lecture offer” made by a militant urban poor group on TV host Bianca Gonzales, who criticized the demand of illegal settlers for relocation.
The militants have their own narrow insular view of governance shaped by their Maoist communist views and, like Isidro, are entitled to their own viewpoints. We can only hope that differences in opinion would be discussed civilly rather than resort to empty trolling and bashing that only leads to violent reactions and threats of reprisal and insults.
It will only be a matter of time before the public sees these administration lapdogs, apologists and trolls as the vicious, brazen, spiteful creatures that they are.