Duterte hits ‘melodramatic’ Inquirer front page photo
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday downplayed a viral photo of a wife of a slain alleged drug pusher cradling the body of her husband, a photo of which was published in the Inquirer on Sunday.
During his State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the House of Representatives, Duterte told the drug pushers and users not to cling to the church and human rights groups to hide from their liability.
“Kung ayaw niyo mamatay, ayaw niyo masaktan, huwag kayo umasa sa mga pari at human rights. Hindi makakapigil ng kamatayan yan (If you don’t want to die and get hurt, don’t pin your hopes on priests and human rights [groups]. They can’t stop death),” Duterte said.
Duterte called out the attention of the Inquirer for publishing the photo showing the wife of a slain alleged drug pusher cradling her husband, which he downplayed as too “dramatic.”
The photo published in the banner of the Inquirer on Sunday showed Jennelyn Olaires weeping while hugging her husband Michael Siaron, a pedicab driver and alleged drug pusher shot and killed by motorcyle-riding men in Pasay City.
Duterte said the couple was portrayed as Michaelangelo’s Pieta.
“Nakabulagta (The body was sprawled), you are portrayed in a broadsheet, mother cradling the dead, like mother and Jesus Christ, Pieta. Anong nangyayari, nagdadramahan tayo dito (What is happening, we just dramatize here)?” Duterte said.
Duterte said the drug pushers could only blame themselves for being slain for their drug-related activities.
“He who is the cause of the cause is the cause of them all,” Duterte said.
Meanwhile, the SONA drew cheers and jeers from netizens who particularly noticed the directing style of Cannes award-winning filmmaker Brillante Mendoza.
They pointed out the varying camera angles during Duterte’s more-than-an-hour speech, which included worm’s eye view shots.
Some called it “classy” and “artsy,” while others said some angles were unnecessary.
“Very classy ang shots ni Brillante Mendoza. Nasanay lang tayo sa static shots ng mga previous SONA. Change is coming nga e,” wrote one Nathaniel de Castro (@NathanielJVC).
“May mga bagay talagang di mo agad ma-gets tulad ng angled shots ni Mr. Brillante Mendoza sa SONA ni Pres. Duterte,” said Ed Salamera.
“Nakakahilo ung camera work sa Sona! Goal ba ni Brillante Mendoza makita natin ung buhok sa ilong ni Du30????” Boy Lemonade tweeted.
Some netizens were left wondering if the unconventional shots had “greater meaning,” while others said they were “confused.”
“Sec. Andanar said the Sona will be an emotional and [a moving] one, how come the people inside Batasan kept laughing? Anyare Brillante Mendoza?” @YvesRomFlores tweeted.
“Sabagay, it does feel like a Brillante Mendoza film–watered down–pero same effect in the end. You exit slightly confused and upset. Pwede,” said Nash Tysmans.
“Dahil Brillante Mendoza ito, may deeper meaning ba yung shots na focused sa kamay? Our future is in his hands? His hands carry his words?” Audry Domasian tweeted.
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