A yearend look at Duterte (Last of 2 parts)
WITH the advent of the New Year, I have some pieces of advice to those who are still confused about our President.
President Rodrigo Duterte, as a leader, has a sworn mission. He puts his life at stake for his people to live in peace. As city mayor, he has the habit of sneaking out of his house in the wee hour of the evening, ride his big bike or drive his taxi to patrol the nooks and corner of the city. He would surprise police stations during unholy hours to check whether they are sleeping on their job or not.
So don’t be surprised why even as President he surfaced somewhere in Cavite while everyone else was fast asleep. Now, do not be surprised too why the President is most active at 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. He developed that habit in his 23 years of servitude as Mayor of Davao City.
Duterte lives a frugal life. As a government official he abhors corruption. He cusses the likes of US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban-Kimoon because they insult and has no regard for sovereignty and culture of nations and dignity of their leaders and people.
He will pursue relentlessly his campaign against drug syndicates and will not lift the order to shoot to kill if the suspects fight it out with the law.
No amount of pontificating can stop Duterte in that. Make no mistake about it.
Rather than condemn President Duterte for the 5,000 over who manufacture or peddle the killer drugs, think seriously about the impact of this unrelenting campaign as close to one-million people who are peddling and users of shabu have surrendered.
It is unfortunate that the religious would rather protect the lives of the members of the syndicates than help in the rehabilitation of drug users and pushers, even as it is lacking in funds, the Duterte government is scrambling from whatever sources to put up rehabilitation centers.
While critics picture Duterte as a murderer and one who is prone to expletives, he is the most compassionate man who takes care of children stricken with cancer. Those who insist to give monetary gift to Duterte are directed to donate instead to the House of Hope which is home to his cancer patients.
None of his critics talks about “Lingap” an institution in Davao City that helps indigent patients get proper medical attention and hospital care.
Vice President Leni Robredo and her foreign supporter Loida Lewis spread their cult’s gospel denigrating Duterte as power hungry and one who contemplates of imposing martial law. The opposite is in fact true.
As mayor, Duterte shares his power to leaders of tribal communities by appointing them deputy mayors and having a tribal leader to represent the indigenous people in the City Council.
During the season of Ramadan, he sends Muslim pilgrims to Mecca.
Stories about these are seldom written or heard because he does not speak about it. These acts of empathy spread in the Moro land and Lumad communities all over Mindanao. That is why his name has become a virtual legend, a star.
If you hear him cuss, listen with your left ear and let it out on the right. I would rather that you and I concentrate on what he does.
He is about to end the year with his six-month tour of duty and let us look at what he had accomplish so far:
1. He has broken the backbone of the drug syndicate. There are still adventurers but eventually they will fall. I mean that literally.
2. His diplomatic foray has open new doors for trade partnerships and exports markets.
3. Except for the unrelenting campaign against terrorist groups in Sulu and in Lanao, the guns of secessionist fronts and the CPP/ NPA/ NDF have quieted down. The peace process, steered by Secretary Jesus Dureza is moving steadily and successfully towards permanent solution.
4. By approaching conflicts via bilateral talks, President Duterte has embarked on an unprecedented journey bridging the gap with China, Russia and other Southeast Asian countries. Duterte added a new momentum and strategy in this foreign affairs, economic, and defense route.
Starting 2017, the roll out of the most massive infrastructure development and implementation will start. Soon those MRT trains will run smoothly. New railways for commuters and cargoes will be constructed, roads, bridges and airports will be built or rehabilitated.
5. More environment-friendly power generating plants will be put up as new investors find the Duterte government transparent.
Indeed 2017 will be a new era for the Philippines. Performance, efficiency, and coherent implementation of projects will overwhelm the sound and fury of Duterte’s critics as well as his own expletives.
The cost What was the cost again of U.S. and E.U. aid? Was it a shred of our precious sovereignty?
We only have to follow the Constitution — ours and not any foreign country’s — that guarantees rule of law and human rights. The price tag is not something that violates our precepts. On the contrary, our Constitution compels it.
It’s not unreasonable “quid” for their substantial “quo.” And we’re not stupid, we must not be.