IN A few days, it will be 2019. Five months and the Duterte administration will enter its third year. These past two years he still enjoys the support of many Filipinos, if we believe results of the periodic surveys. The question is: does he still deserve the political grace of our people?
In the gospel of St. Mathew 20:20-28 is saying in part, 'whoever wants to be great in your community, let him minister to the community. And if you want to be the first of all, make yourself the servant of all.'
Let me pontificate further. When the Good Lord speaks we better listen, for he speaks with fortitude. When President Duterte speaks, the people, lettered and unlettered, rich and poor, men or women listen. They only don't hear him, they believe him. They even laugh on his cursing. The audience doesn’t even know if he is joking or not. Poor Salvador Panelo. He is having a hard time explaining or interpreting the president’s dissertations. But the Kapampangans didn’t take it lightly when he accused Bishop Ambo David that he is into drugs and that he steal church donations. That’s out of bounds.
Our president is appreciated because he is really sincere in his fight vs corruption which is pervasive despite many were booted out of their positions. Maybe again nine out of ten Filipinos will also adopt silence and may give their nod if notoriously corrupt officials, past and present will just disappear in the face of the earth. Put them in jails? Not good option. They can have the best lawyers that money can buy and there are some in the judiciary that are ‘hoodlums in robe’. There are still many holding offices. And please look also on how the local governments are run. Many local officials are multimillionaires. So rich beyond their dreams. Maybe they can also place a cardboard placed as a necklace saying 'huwag pamarisan, kurakot ako ng pera ng gobyerno.'
The millions of his followers are not hesitant in always giving him the benefit of the doubt despite the raw power, little regard for due process, by some members of the Philippine National Police in combating criminality. Some shrill cry from some sectors. But not loud enough for people to go to the streets. It means the president is still popular and enjoying a mass support.
Respect for our president's decisions is important but what is equally important that presidential power is checked and carefully balanced what are spelled out by the statutes because the temptation of enormous power are sometimes tempting.
Tidbits: The controversy in Angeles City over the P1.2-billion loan which mostly meant for a sports complex will not easily die down. The real issue here if legal processes were followed. If not, well a court case is not far from coming...The political situation in the City of San Fernando is getting interesting every day. I believe Mayor Edwin Santiago is really bothered now that a serious opposition post by Councilor Vilma Caluag to his re-election bid is gaining much traction. Is it true that he will match the Caluag’s money centavo to centavo even if he has to spend half billion? Ang dami palang pera ni EdSa. Baka naman fake news lang yan?... In Porac the latest survey showed Vice-Mayor Dexter David ahead closely followed by Jing Capil. This will go down the wire.