“THE people of the Philippines are not ready for my kind of style,” Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned in September when he turned down ardent calls by his supporters for him to run for the presidency.
In a sudden twist of fate, Duterte made his presidential bid official on Friday, Nov. 27, as he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president as the standard-bearer of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party, with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party as his running mate. Duterte’s entry into the presidential race makes it a five-cornered fight where he will go against prominent names including Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Sen. Mar Roxas.
The documents he submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) included priority programs he will implement if elected as the Philippine president. These included “streamlining bureaucracy by introducing digital systems and technologies” and “values formation in all elementary and high schools nationwide.” He also plans to reduce crime and eliminate drugs, make drug dealers and criminals face stiffer penalties and strengthen the criminal justice system. His national platform of government also focuses on fixing government administration, tax reforms, shifting to federalism and building disaster and resilient communities.
Despite throwing his hat late in the competition, Duterte received the highest score in a recent Pulse Asia survey conducted two weeks ago in Metro Manila. One in every three voters (34 percent) in Metro Manila said he or she would vote for Duterte if elections were held early this month. He was followed by Poe with 26 percent; Binay, 22 percent; Roxas, 11 percent; and Santiago, 7 percent.
His supporters want him to turn the Philippines as safe and as thriving as Davao City. He may be rough around the edges, but his unconventional and vigilante-style of leadership has turned Davao City the fourth safest place in the world as ranked by Numbeo.com, and the country’s most child-friendly based on a government ranking.
In the last few days, Duterte’s presidential bid surged as he was hogging the majority of news headlines. He was a serious contender and if the recent survey will dictate the 2016 election results, he has the makings of the next Philippine president.
The presidency is almost his for the taking — until he opened his mouth. During his proclamation as the official standard-bearer of PDP-Laban on Monday, Nov. 30, Duterte didn’t mince words as he told the audience of the kind of leader he is going to be. He admitted to being a womanizer (he has two wives and two girlfriends), and is not afraid of killing criminals and drug dealers.
He had constant applause on the onset of his speech, but the cheers died down when he decided to take a swipe at the Roman Catholic Church and curse Pope Francis.
Duterte might have overlooked that the Philippines is still a predominantly Catholic country and the majority of the populace is not ready for his no-nonsense kind of leadership. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) criticized Duterte’s recent speech and cried foul over his cursing of Pope Francis.
“Is this the leadership by example that Mayor Duterte excites in us? Is this the leadership by example that makes a public official deserving of the title ‘Honorable’?” CBCP President and Archbishop Socrates Villegas lamented.
Not one to back down on his detractors, Duterte responded to the Church’s leadership by saying to not to judge him because the institution is also not spotless.
“You priests, you bishops, you condemn me. And you suggest that I withdraw and I will withdraw, but then I will start to open my mouth. There are so many secrets that children are hiding. This religion is not so sacred,” Duterte retorted.
If he continues to charge like a raging bull, Duterte will force his supporters to think twice before checking his name on the ballot come election next year.
He needs to dial down on the crassitude and vulgarity, and realize that being the most powerful man in the country means taking a central role in every Filipino’s life. He will shape the system, make crucial decisions about the economy, and represent the hopes and interests of every Filipino in the world.
Duterte might have gotten plaudits for now, but factors that might take a toll on his standing are yet to come. After all, good politicians should know that holding a public office means embracing challenges and opportunities that the post offers them. (AJPress)
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