Mixed reactions

“Let us never negotiate out of fear; but let us never fear to negotiate. — John F. Kennedy

FASTEN your seat belt, it will be a bumpy ride, but it has also been an auspicious beginning for presumptive President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

While the initial front liners to the Cabinet of President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte have been generally well received by the public and the business sector, for their evident integrity, experience, competence, and closeness to the incoming president, there have been mixed reactions to some appointments and prospective nominees to the Cabinet.

For starters, former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Dominguez as Secretary of Finance; former SEC Chairman and noted lawyer Perfecto “Jun” Yasay as interim Secretary of Foreign Affairs; veteran lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre as Justice Secretary, and Art Tugade as Transportation and Communications Secretary will form the official core group of the President, and will be enhanced by the appointment of close associate, Chief Supt. Ronald de la Rosa as PNP Chief, Andrea “Didi” Domingo as Pagcor head, and prospective appointees, such as bar topnotcher Atty. Gilbert Teodoro, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Esperon, and veteran negotiator Jesus Dureza.

By and large, there appears to be a sincere endeavor on the part of President Duterte to form a broad, eclectic, honest, and dedicated Cabinet that will reflect a wide spectrum of Philippine society with the primordial concern for the lowest stratum of society.

First, in keeping with his political promise to bring peace in Mindanao by forging a cessation of hostilities and armed struggle with the CPP-NPA by offering them Cabinet positions, it remains a culture shock and amazement at the boldness of the proposition that calls for caution and a wait-and-see on the part of the public and investors.

The Philippines has the longest and costly communist insurgency in the world and President Duterte would like to see peace with the insurgents and invite them to join the mainstream of society.

President Duterte also believes that peace in Mindanao can only be achieved by granting the Muslims broad autonomy and a federalized form of government which necessitates a revision of the Constitution.

Second, from where we sit, President Duterte has found himself engulfed in priorities and problems ranging from his commitment to suppress the drug menace, corruption, and criminality in six months to calling for a National Convention to amend the Constitution to possibly negotiating a bilateral concordat with China on the West Philippine Sea to imposing a liquor ban after one a.m. and curfew for youngsters.

When all is said and done, the Filipino people believe in him and expectations are high.

That is, President Duterte has aroused and ignited the imagination of the people.

They have found the messiah in President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the people expect the President to deliver on his promises.

For these reasons, the ball is in Duterte’s court, and the people expect results.

You be the judge.