Menacing

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to stop crime and corruption if elected president of the Philippines in 2016. It seems that he will stop at nothing to get there. The no-nonsense presidential aspirant is on a mean streak lately and has been engaging his rivals in a political mudslinging.
His first target was Sen. Grace Poe, who is currently facing disqualification cases over her residency and citizenship status. Duterte said he was convinced to submit his bid for the presidency because he does not want an American to be the country’s next president.
“The president should be a Filipino,” Duterte said.
Poe’s camp maintained the senator is a natural-born Filipino and that the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET’s) favorable decision on the senator’s eligibility, rendered justice to Poe and all other foundlings. “In a democracy, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We respect Mayor Duterte and we respect his opinion. But to reiterate, Senator Poe is a natural-born Filipino. International laws and covenants substantiate this fact,” Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said.
However, Poe’s candidacy remains in limbo after the Commission on Election (Comelec’s) First and Second Divisions disqualified her from the presidential race due to citizenship and residency issues. The Supreme Court will review and give the final verdict on the cases.
On Sunday, Dec. 13, Duterte lashed back at the Liberal Party’s standard bearer, former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar”  Roxas II and accused him falsely of graduating from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
“I would like to ask the presidentiable [Roxas], you claim to have graduated from Wharton School of Economics, that is a myth. You did not graduate from Wharton School of Economics, Mr. Roxas,” Duterte said. Roxas presented his Wharton credentials, but Duterte remained adamant and said they were fabricated.
According to the university’s website, Roxas graduated with a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School in 1979 and is listed as one the institution’s notable alumni, which also include Donald Trump and Warren Buffett.
The word-war sparked when Roxas claimed that Davao City’s peace and order is a myth. Davao City was recently ranked the fourth safest place in the world by Numbeo.com, and the country’s most child-friendly based on a government ranking.
With neither one backing down on proving their claims, Duterte dared Roxas in a slapping match, while Roxas insisted a fistfight. The heated exchange ended with Duterte challenging Roxas to a gun duel, saying he is not afraid of anything.
While recent poll results are in his favor, Duterte should be reminded that there is a multitude of ills in the country that deserve more attention. Rather than trading barbs with his competition, he should elaborate on his platform instead to engage more voters to cast his name on the ballot next year.
Filipinos have unenthusiastic assessments on the socio-political situation in the country. As spectators to this current political drama, they owe it to themselves to think objectively and look at facts instead of having prejudices and biases. With the presidency on the line, civic participation is encouraged now more than ever. (AJPress)