AFTER rising in rebellion nearly 30 years ago to oust a president who ruled with an iron fist, it would seem that many Filipinos are now willing to embrace a man who is known to go beyond the law to cleanse his city of criminals.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, once called by the Time Magazine as “The Punisher” after the popular comic book vigilante who kills and terrorizes criminals, started his political career as OIC-vice mayor of Davao City in 1987 after the fall of strongman President Ferdinand Marcos, who abolished Congress, suspended the Constitution, launched his revolution from the top, and ruled the country under martial law for 14 years after serving as a duly-elected president for seven years.
Now, many Filipinos want Duterte to become president, a man who said that if elected president, he would abolish Congress and declare a revolutionary government “within six months or one year” if he did not get the reforms he wanted.
At least the man was honest and forthright with his intentions. You either like him or hate him.
But is he being honest when he said he was not interested in the presidency and that he would only run if the surveys gave him a 60-percent preference, which he himself dismissed as impossible?
Duterte would most probably run for president in 2016, unless the surveys plunge to below his present rating in the next polling. At present, he is tied for third with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas with 15 percent (a jump from 5%) behind leading contenders Vice President Jojo Binay (36%) and Sen. Grace Poe (31%).
Duterte has been making the rounds of various provinces in the last few weeks in what he calls a “listening tour,” pitching for federalism at the same time. A Facebook page has been set up to push for his presidential run, a Duterte for President Movement has been very active, and events such as the “Run Duterte” fun run held last week in Davao City are being held more frequently.
He has also been delivering speeches and accommodating news interviews more often. But the biggest giveaway that Duterte will run in 2016 is the fact that well-known political strategist Lito Banayo has joined his camp. Banayo, who is also from Mindanao, was campaign strategist and political adviser for many presidents, including President Cory Aquino, who named him postmaster general; President Joseph Estrada, who appointed him general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority; and President Noynoy Aquino, who made him head of the National Food Authority.
Duterte’s bid did not gain traction until he was endorsed as official candidate of the PDP-Laban by party chair Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III in February, noting that the Davao mayor has a strong following in the Visayas and Mindanao and is a very strong proponent of the federal system, an advocacy of both Koko and his father, former Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.
Many presidential contenders have apparently recognized Duterte’s drawing power, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao. Binay said last week he is considering Duterte to be his running mate, noting that the latter is a successful mayor. In September, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who says she would run if her health permits, said in September that Duterte is her first choice for vice president.
Last Friday, Sen. Ping Lacson said he is still studying the possibility of running for president in 2016 and would consider a team-up with Duterte. He said the emergence of Duterte as a strong contender in the 2016 polls shows that people are looking at an alternative to the usual names of possible bets.
Lacson could be right. Thirty years after the so-called “People Power” revolution that was hoped to bring political reforms, the country is back to “business as usual” where the elite rules, and where the problems of cronyism, corruption, political patronage, political dynasties, and breakdown of law and order are back.
The people have grown tired of politicians promising them deliverance and delivering nothing. They are tired of the rule by the traditional politicians and a few political families. They are tired of a corrupt Congress, an inept and arrogant chief executive, and a slow-grinding judicial system.
Duterte emerged in a time of despair and hopelessness, and has become, to many people, a symbol of their desire to challenge, nay to topple, the status quo. Come to think of it, Duterte is saying out loud – not in the deceptive discourse of a seasoned politician, but in a way neighborhood toughies would – what many Filipinos had been quietly saying all along.
Consider some of his more popular quotes:
“The criminals have no place in this city except jails, detention centers, and god forbid, funeral parlors.”
” Stop or leave. If you can’t or will not, you will not survive. You can either leave vertically or horizontally.”
“If you are doing an illegal activity in my city, if you are a criminal or part of a syndicate that preys on the innocent people of the city, for as long as I am the mayor, you are a legitimate target of assassination.”
“I want smuggling of rice in my city stopped. If you still do not stop your smuggling activities, I will kill you.”
“Kidnappers, drug pushers from other places, I dare you to come over here so that I can finish you off.”
One would think these words are coming from a nut case. And yet, although Duterte spent his adolescence with neighborhood toughies, he is the son of a former governor of Davao, when the province was not yet divided into four provinces, and a former public school teacher. He graduated from Lyceum University for his bachelor’s degree, finished law in San Beda College, and passed the bar in the same year.
Duterte has been mayor of Davao City for seven terms, congressman for one term, and vice mayor before returning as mayor in 2013. He has defeated established politicians in the city, including former Rep. Prospero Nogales and former Rep. Zafiro Respicio.
According to Wikipedia, Davao City under Duterte won the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award for being a three-time first place winner in the Outstanding Local Government Unit Highly Urbanized City category. He imposed a prohibition on selling, serving, drinking and consumption of liquors and alcoholic beverages from 1:00 am until 8:00 am. He set speed limits for all kinds of motor vehicles within the city. He established a 911 emergency plan and acquired 10 more ambulances and 42 new mobile patrol vehicles and motorcycles for the Davao City Police. He ordered all shopping malls and commercial centers to install, operate and maintain high end and high definition closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all entrance and exit points of their premises.
To politicians and militants, Duterte is a threat to freedom and democracy. To the people of Davao, he is a treat. To some people, he is a cold-blooded executioner. To the desperate, he is hope.
Which one is he to you?
(valabelgas@aol.com)