Abrigo: Unplanned presidency

Abrigo: Unplanned presidency

“DESTINY” is always the vendible adjective used by President Rodrigo Duterte to describe his luck as 16th president of this republic.

It was September 26, 2015 when the supporters of then mayor Duterte launched a “Million People March” at the Burham Gardens to urge the mayor to run for president in 2016.

Despite the public clamor, Duterte was consistent in his decision aside from having no billion-peso fund for the campaign and he don’t want to solicit; he wanted to retire from politics as he announced on September 8, 2015.

But then many responded to fund his candidacy. One of them is Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Davao City. CNN quoted Quiboloy, saying, "Mayor, whatever amount I can accommodate to give to you, I will do it. Whether it is P1 billion, P2 billion, P3 billion, P5 billion — I don’t care. I will help your cause for the Filipino people." In fact the kickoff of campaign and proclamation rally held in suburb Tondo was aired over Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network on February 9, 2016. And his believers are significant in number with the sea of humanity attended the two mega rallies for Duterte, one of which was held in Crocodile Park, Davao city.

At the last minute, Duterte filed his COC through a representative in Manila as substitute to his party mate Martin Denio for president. And on May 9, 2016 Duterte won with 16,601,997 votes.

The flaws of unplanned presidency are glaring, not to mention the overnight picking of cabinets, it also includes:

1.) Lack of preparation and vital information for its war against drugs; 2.) Excessive pronouncement of projects, salary increases, and programs weigh below the available resources; and other slip-ups of policies which are too numerous to mention.

In effect, the president was dismayed, perturbed and discouraged of his office upon attaining the comprehensive knowledge few days ago on how corruption deeply rooted in the government. His thrust to fight corruption, drug menace and poverty becomes blunt and pale, and criticized.

When former president Marcos faced the same pressure both local and abroad in his presidency, and to silence his critics, he announced a “snap election” to prove he still has the mandate of the Filipinos. Duterte can disregard the high SWS rating and declare a snap election to tell the Filipinos and the world that the 16.6million punters in 2016 are still on his back. And we will also know if another widow will take his challenge.

But Duterte cannot do this. In fact when a talk of impeachment pervades the air, he was furious and warned the critics “...kulungin ko silang lahat.” So it is not true that he is already losing satiation in his position. The truth of the matter is that he is even willing to utilize his well-paid soldiers if only to stay in the office he once refused. Because he believed in the Divine Providence of destiny, he will serve the Filipinos until 2022 no matter what it costs. (abrigodann@gmail.com)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph