By Al S. Mendoza

 

YEARS back, almost right after President Duterte became President in 2016, I said here that we should not immediately believe in every word he says.

For, his mind is as fickle as the weather—to use a cliché.

What he says this minute, he’d say the opposite the next minute.

Never, ever take his word at face value.

He’d rather waylay you than tell you things straight—done in jest most of the time.

He loves to crack jokes, including the corny ones.

But he is never a bore.  He always manages to find a way to regain the meat of every crack he’d dish off.

I know.  I’ve had drinking sprees with him long before he became President.

“He is actually a funny man,” said Ken Angeles, the owner of Yellow Fin Tuna, Mr. Duterte’s favorite restaurant in Davao City.  “His jokes make everybody super happy that’s why his presence in gatherings is always sought after.”

The first time I saw Digong in the metropolis was months before the 2016 polls.

It was at Toyota Alabang, during Cesar Lee’s inauguration of his expanded dealership.

When I saw Mr. Duterte seated in one corner of the sprawling lobby, I immediately wanted to approach him for a chat down memory lane.

But before I could, Danny “Sir John” Isla, then Lexus president, said to me: “That’s Duterte.  I know you are friends.  Please introduce me to him?”

But, of course.

I thought Digong wouldn’t recognize me as it’s been ages since we clinked glasses at Ken’s Yellow Fin Tuna.

“Oh, Pareng Al, it’s been a while,” he said.  “You’ve not visited Davao for quite some time now.  Miss ka na ni Pareng Ken.”

After a short chat, we said our goodbyes—but not after Sir John had made his selfie with the President-to-be.

My next encounter with Digong was when he was hosted by Benny Gopez, my kumpadre-owner of Mizuno sports equipment and apparel, at Magallanes, Makati.

Digong was now running for President and Pareng Benny was one of his staunchest supporters.

“Oh, Pareng Al, salamat sa suporta, as always,” Digong said to me as he made his way up the improvised stage to address the crowd in Pareng Benny’s fifth floor abode.

And then Digong became President.

And then we stopped meeting.

Understood.  All presidents become willing captives of tight security cordons.

Perhaps, after he completes his six-year term and steps out of the Palace on June 30, 2022, we’d meet again.

Who knows?

Meanwhile, will he endorse someone as his replacement?

He has said: “Bongbong would make a weak president.  He is a spoiled brat.”

The “next minute,” he said: “It’s up to you [voters] to choose who your Ilocano leader would be (to replace me).” Bongbong is Ilocano.

Not long after, he said: “My appropriate replacement must be a lawyer.”

Of the current five front-runners (Bongbong, Leni, Isko, Ping and Leody) in the presidential race, it is only Leni who is a lawyer.

Digong for Leni then?

Uh-oh, not so fast. Hold your horses, fellas.

The President loves to crack jokes, right?

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