Duterte hints he just might run to appease supporters

by Chito A. Fuentes

BALANGA CITY, BATAAN - Mayor Rodrigo Duterte might just file his certificate of candidacy for a very unusual reason - to appease the people who want him to run.

It was the first time the mayor gave a hint that he just might make a go for the highest office of the land, music to the ears of his supporters who have been asking him to do that for several months now.

Duterte advance team at the Petron Clubhouse in Limay, Bataan (from left, Maribojoc Mayor Jun Evasco, writer Chito Fuentes, Luzon Coordinator Butch Ramirez, Davao 3rd District City Councilor Joselle Dilig Villafuerte, who is from Bataan, and Davao pomelo King Meloy Mercado)

“Para paligayahin ko yung mga tao na gustong tumakbo ako (to appease the people who want me to run)”, the mayor said matter-of-factly while referring to a TV interview the previous night.

It turned out that Duterte was only trying to light up his audience of parents, teachers and local government officials during an educational summit held at Louis Resort in this city.

Duterte has been resisting calls for him to run for president after he started going around to promote his calls for a shift to federalism.

The mayor was trying to make it casual when he followed it up with an unusual request.

“If I happen to file my certificate of candidacy, then do not vote for me,” the mayor said.

He warned that if he wins, “it would be bloody.”

Duterte lamented that he seems to be the only one concerned with the problem.

“What you see and hear on television are candidates cutting each other’s throat but wala silang program of government on the breakdown of the law, order and criminality,” he added.

Duterte is credited for turning Davao City around from being the killing fields of the 80s to the safest city in the country today.

Duterte acknowledged that it comes with a price.

“Ako binibira nila ng extrajudicial killing, nagsasalvage daw tayo ng kriminals (They hit me for extrajudicial, we supposedly salvage criminals),” he pointed out.

The mayor, however, pointed to the state of the country’s judicial system where criminals who are sentenced to prison enjoy their time in Muntinglupa.

Duterte said there is no problem if the five pillars of justice are working well and functioning at a maximum efficiency.

“They have every reason to crucify me,” he said referring to his critics.

Unfortunately, Duterte said drugs remains the biggest problem in the country, reiterating his warning that the Philippines might become “the next Mexico”. 

To many Filipinos including many in his audience here who excitedly lined up for groupies and selfies, only Duterte can prevent that from happening. (CHITO A. FUENTES)

Duterte’s “crowning glory” is fighting crime in Davao

by Chito A. Fuentes

DUMAGUETE CITY - Mayor Rodrigo Duterte considers his fight against crime in Davao City the “crowning glory” of his political career.

“Davao used to be a very, very troubled place,” the mayor recalled, noting that at one time “two to three” policemen ended up dead every day.

Speaking before the Veloso clan reunion at Bethel Hotel in Dumaguete City Saturday, Duterte said he was pleased with what he has accomplished.

“Somehow, I was able to talk things out with everybody,” he added.

Mayor Duterte at the recent anniversary rites of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) Photo by Roldan Gorgonio

When Duterte assumed as mayor in 1988, Davao City was considered the murder capital of Mindanao.

Under his watch, the peace and order situation vastly improved such that it was cited by crowd-sourced rating site Numbeo.com as the 5th safest city in the world.

The successful turn-around has captured the imagination of many people alarmed over the worsening peace and order situation in the country.

Even after Duterte has unequivocally declared that he does not covet the presidency on many occasions, the clamor refuses to die down.

Duterte’s stock in fact continues to rise when he placed third behind Sen. Grace Poe and Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay in the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Duterte himself admitted that many people are pushing him to run particularly people from Mindanao.

He acknowledged that everywhere he goes, local officials tell him the no. 1 problem is illegal drugs.

His track record in the fight against crime is one reason why many people continue to pin their hopes on Duterte despite his disavowals. 

“Let me make this clear: if you go to my city and do drugs, I will kill you,” he told his audience. 

He has said this many times, indicating his fixation to combat this social menace.

Duterte appeared unimpressed with the present crop of presidential aspirants particularly in fighting crime.  

“If you look at the political landscape, it is arid land,” he added.

Insisting that he is now tired after being mayor for a long time, Duterte said he has done what he set out to do at the start of his political career.

“You can be proud that you have a relative you made things right,” he added.

Notwithstanding his previous pronouncements, many people are optimistic the mayor can be prevailed upon to make things right on a national scale. (CHITO A. FUENTES)