After Giving Duterte our Trust, It is Time to Give Him our Support
Posted on Sunday, 15 May 2016
After
Giving Duterte Our Trust
It
is Time to Give Him Our Support
By Apolinario Villalobos
A couple or more of years before the
presidential election, due to too much disappointment and frustrations, many
Filipinos floated the idea to have a drastic change and with it came up with a
guy, who by all indications personify the image that the country needs…one with
a steely personality – Duterte. For many, he is the only person viewed as
having a firm conviction when it comes to decision-making, though, tempered
with emotional compassion, the manifestation of which was seen later. But
because of his habit to cuss, he was viewed as immoral, and many detractors
whose vocabulary does not include the word “discipline”, even spread gossips
about his womanizing, but which Duterete unabashedly admitted, adding that
though, separated from his first wife, he still maintains a close friendship
with her. Still, others who are not contented in bashing Duterte even insist
that Davao is not Philippines…meaning, what he has done to make Davao peaceful
is impossible to be done for the whole Philippines.
Despite all the badmouthing, the nation is
bound to have a feisty, frank, honest, decisive, and a hands-on president.
Contrary to what his detractors thought, majority of his supporters are women,
and despite his being “immoral” as insisted by the non-believers in discipline,
he was heartily endorsed by the Iglesia ni Cristo. Most especially, his
peacekeeping and disciplinary programs in Davao are now being perceived by the
Philippine National Police to be possible in Manila. This same view is being
shared by many citizens who are tired of noisy China- made “single motorcycle”,
drugs, destructive youth roaming the streets in the dead of the night,
pickpockets, and wily taxi drivers. Practically, those who were not sold by his
effort are now saying that they can be done in Manila and even throughout the
country. I have to admit that I was among them but had a change of heart when I
saw his determination at the start of the campaign. I made write-ups about his
success in Davao City, but was apprehensive if he can duplicate them if he
becomes president because he has to tackle yet, Congress and Senate, unlike a
city like Davao with only the City Council to convince.
Although, as of this date, he is yet,
referred to as, “presumptive President”, heads of many nations are already
recognizing him as the duly chosen in place of Pnoy Aquino. If only to make
sure that what we are expecting of him can be realized, we are bound to give
him our all-out support. We should not abandon him after giving him a mountain
of responsibility for the rehabilitation, though, not totally from the
long-suffering or our nation…and then, blame him at the end. Personally, I hope
that he will not commit mistakes in choosing the people who are eager to work
with him, as they might spell his downfall despite the support of many
Filipinos.
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