The Duterte phenomenon

THERE was a tsunami of clamor for Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to go after our much-debauched presidency, and when he finally said “No” last week, there was much cursing in the social media, as if the feisty mayor had personally affronted them.

The sense of loss is understandable.

The citizens of this benighted country are simply fed up with all the criminality going all around them. They are secretly longing for a fearless character to do the job of cleaning the Augean stables.

You hear the pleas of the common tao, the teachers, canal diggers, cab drivers, MRT commuters, and netizens. They want a stop to the drug menace engulfing the country and Duterte is seen as one such character, among the presidential aspirants, who has proven able to forcefully address the myriad problems of his city.

We are fed up with our law enforcement agencies who are perceived to be in cahoots with drug lords, if not the purveyors of the illegal drugs themselves.

Duterte’s heavy hands practically wiped out the spread of drugs in Davao. He was able to enforce traffic rules. He convinced his followers to make the city clean. He hounded criminals out of the city, if not allegedly having a personal hand in eliminating some of them.

He imposed a strict Lee Kuan Yew-like discipline among his people so that Davaoeños comport themselves in much the same way Singaporeans do – law abiding and imbued with civility.

For his accomplishments, Davao was awarded as the most culturefriendly city in the Philippines and one of the 20 most livable cities in Asia. Cleanest and greenest highly urbanized city. Most child-friendly city in the country. Most competitive to do business in the Philippines, Most gender responsive LGU Hall of Fame. Best Peace and Order. And so on.

To those aspiring for the presidency, stop mouthing those motherhood platitudes that people are tired of hearing. Look at Duterte’s way and try to emulate what he did for Davao and you’ll be assured of the people’s gratitude.

Be like Duterte and the way to Malacañang would open up for you.