Tensions high ahead of poll
Duterte favourite, as people yearn for safety
MANILA: Security forces fanned out across the Philippines yesterday on the eve of national polls, following a vicious and deadly election campaign dominated by presidential favourite Rodrigo Duterte’s threats to kill thousands of criminals.
Surveys show Mr Duterte, mayor of the southern city of Davao, has a clear lead in today’s presidential elections as millions of voters embrace his threats to unleash security forces in an unprecedented crime spree and shut down Congress if lawmakers oppose him.
President Benigno Aquino, who is limited to a single six-year term, has likened Mr Duterte to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and has also warned of a looming dictatorship, with the presidential tensions fuelling an already volatile and violent political culture.
Mr Duterte has accused Mr Aquino’s administration of planning “massive cheating” to ensure that his preferred successor, former interior secretary Mar Roxas who surveys show is trailing in second place, wins.
MANILA: Taxi driver John Par was last week still undecided about which of the five presidential candidates he would vote for in today’s election in the Philippines.
The 35-year-old father is torn between Rodrigo Duterte, the 71-year-old mayor of Davao in the southern Philippines who is leading in pre-election surveys, and Senator Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, popularly known as Grace Poe, 47, the previous frontrunner.
“I hope corruption will be eradicated, if not lessened, so that all government projects will be finished and so that we, the people, can feel the benefits of the taxes we pay the government,” Mr Par said when asked on Friday about his expectations for the successor of President Benigno Aquino, who is barred from running for a second term.
“We need change,” Mr Par said, echoing an independent survey result early this year on what Filipinos want their preferred presidential candidate to address. According to the Pulse Asia polls, 30% of voters want corruption in government addressed, apart from the need to raise workers’ pay (38%) and curbing widespread sale and use of illegal drugs (36%).
The five-way presidential race includes former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas, 58, Vice-President Jejomar Binay, 73, and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 70.
“This May 9 election is important because what’s at stake is whether the current thrusts will continue or not. This is a choice for continuity, or possible change,” political analyst Aries Arugay, a professor in political science at the University of the Philippines, said.
In addition to domestic issues, he cited “challenges outside the country, such as US-China rivalry, Asean integration, South China Sea disputes and the arms race in Southeast Asia”.
Mr Par, who lives in the Manila suburb of Tondo, is considering Mr Duterte because of what he has done in Davao as its mayor for more than 20 years.
“Davao is peaceful. And he has proven he could deal with illegal drugs. I also approve of his push for federalism to spread development and government power to the provinces,” he said of Mr Duterte.
Based on the most recent surveys, Mr Duterte is likely to win despite criticism of his blunt manner of speaking and misogynistic utterances.
Within the past two weeks, Mr Duterte, whose campaign platform centres on pushing for decentralisation while curbing criminality and corruption, was blasted with allegations of keeping ill-gotten wealth and other irregularities. His rivals, and Mr Aquino no less, also labelled him as a dictator and portrayed him as a pro-communist.
The mayor has denied the allegations, with his camp dismissing them as desperate attempts to shave off his support base.
But in Davao, many residents speak highly of him, affirming how Mr Duterte’s leadership, foremost, makes people feel safe there.
“I think if he wins the country will be safer. He managed Davao well. There is almost no trouble here. If there’s any, he personally takes care of it,” Jeffrey Rodriguez, 30, said.
“He has resolved the problem of illegal drugs here in Davao city. My husband used to be a drug user, but has since stopped,” said shared market vendor Charlene Dabalos, 30.
Mr Par, however, admitted he suddenly had second thoughts about Mr Duterte when he learned of the accusations, so he has gone to consider the neophyte politician Senator Poe.
“She’s fresh so she’s unlike our traditional politicians who have mastered the art of making a fool out of the Filipino people,” Mr Par said.
Ms Poe was first elected in 2013 as a senator. In March, the Supreme Court overturned a ruling by the election commission to disqualify her candidacy on the grounds of nationality and residency requirements.
She is running on a platform of inclusion and compassionate governance.
The outgoing Aquino government boasts of having boosted the country’s gross domestic product growth to an annual average of 6.2% since 2010, improved the country’s credit rating and competitive ranking and brought down unemployment.
“Although systemic problems remain to be addressed, the Aquino administration has done better than expected over the past six years.
The Philippines is riding high in the eyes of the international community and that most certainly matters,” said voter Caroline Albarando from the Manila suburb of Quezon City.
“But, regardless of who wins ... my expectation for the government is for it to surpass the gains of the previous administration and for the country to once again unite in thought and in actions,” she added.
In a television interview on Saturday, university professor Julio Teehankee said the proof that the Philippines is a “real democracy” is if its people can “accept the process and the results of the process”, despite many being bothered by Mr Duterte’s candidacy.
“Our being Filipino can be gauged if we can accept the decision of the people,” he said.
As for the still-undecided Mr Par, the candidate who will usher in an environment where he could start a small business so he could adequately provide for his wife and five-year-old son might just get his vote. However, he remains unsure which one that could be.