DUTERTE’S DESTINY

President-Elect Rody Duterte

Mar Roxas was what we call “llamado”. He had all the advantages in the Philippine presidential race.

First, he had greater name recognition – son of the late LP President

and Senator Gerry Roxas, and grandson of the Philippines’ First

Philippine Republic Manuel Roxas;

Second, he was endorsed and supported by the incumbent President

Benigno Aquino III. and the Yellow Army;

Third, he was the standard bearer of the ruling party – the Liberal

Party, which has the political machine and resources controlling

Congress, Provincial, City, and Municipal capitols and the entire

Bureaucracy;

Fourth, he was independently wealthy and supported by clean and business money;

Fifth, he was the incumbent Secretary of Interior and Local

Governments, which gave him access and control over almost every local

political official;

Sixth, he was comparatively the most experienced among the

presidential candidates; and

Seventh, he owned a powerful message, “Daang Matuwid”, which proved to be PNoy’s successful anti-corruption legacy.

Yet, he lost to my Bedan classmate Mayor Rody Duterte in the

presidential competition. Duterte trounced him convincingly with

Duterte garnering 15,956,395 votes and Roxas obtaining 9,696,228 per

reports as I write this column.

Why? Let me contribute the following views:

1.     Historically, Filipino voters always preferred the perceived

most “macho” or “superhero” as President. Based on his record as a

strong Mayor of Davao City, Duterte was reputed to be the most

“macho”.

2.     While endorsed by PNoy, the Liberal Party, and the Yellow Army

to continue PNoy’s policies, the Filipino people have not felt the

benefits of the economic and “Daang Matuwid” policies. Continuity does

not register to mean socio-economic and political changes to their

lives in the immediate future.

3.     Duterte’s message resonated more and was credibly better received

by the Filipino voters. Promising to go after the criminals and hoping

to suppress drug trafficking drove the voters to the polls for

Duterte. This is reinforced by the promise to accomplish the

objectives in the shortest time possible – six months to one year.

4.     The prospects for eventual peace in Mindanao seems to be

closest to the hearts and minds of the Muslims and other Mindanao

residents with Duterte voted as President.

5.     Even the leftist and other rebels are open to sitting down with

Duterte peacefully and together looking for long-term solutions to the conflicts.

6.     Initially disappointed for his decision not to run for

President, I wrote that his withdrawal meant that the Filipino people

were denied an alternative vision for the country’s future as

reflected by Rody’s unwavering commitment to institute radical changes

in our society. A great number of Filipinos like and love what he did

in Davao City and even more wanted him to lead the nation. Hence, the

clamor for him to run for President.

Well, he heard the clamor and the sound was getting louder and louder! His supporters grew in great numbers, and Philippine history is changed forever!

I join others in praying that God blesses President-elect Duterte with

greater health, discernment, courage and wisdom as he provides the

Filipino people a clear vision.