The last man standing -- and holding out

MAYBE it’s just the nature of Filipinos to prod and push the reluctant candidate, to be really “makulit” about Rodrigo Duterte who repeatedly (again and again) said he wouldn’t run for president.

Well, as of the weekend, Duterte was the last would-be candidate standing outside and holding out. All the others are in. Actually, he filed a COC for reelection as Davao City mayor; it’s the presidential race he has shunned.

Comelec wouldn’t have to worry about lacking presidential candidates: 130 of them, at least four of whom are surely major contenders.

Whether Duterte’s dropping out (was he ever in?) would be a monumental loss to the nation might never be known. Debate on the question could go on and on.

Range of choice

But there are serious nominees for voters to choose. And maybe for the next elections, there are enough substantial distinctions that set each apart from the others on honesty, integrity and experience and what each proposes to do during his or her term.

Once Comelec will have screened the list and removed the jokers and the nuts, voters’ range of choice may still be wide enough, Duterte’s absence notwithstanding.

And who knows there may even be one or two from the more than a hundred aspirants to give the major candidates a run for their money?