MUCH to the astonishment of everyone, the presumptive president-elect Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte also known as Mayor Digong of Davao City have achieved the highest position in government by an overwhelming margin of 38.5 percent of the vote, and is set to take office as the country’s chief executive on June 30, 2016.
What may have been the reason why majority of the Filipinos voted for Mayor Digong? Well in retrospect, we may look at it as something wrong in society needing a sensible solution.
First and foremost, his stand on peace and order may have been the nail in the coffin on why the Filipinos considered him for the country’s top post.
His successful zero tolerance policies against criminals in the city of Davao have earned him the nickname "The Punisher". Vigilante groups tied to Duterte are thought to be responsible for the execution of drug traffickers, criminals, gang members and other lawless elements.
Over a period of 20 years, he turned Davao City from the "murder capital of The Philippines" to what tourism organizations now describe as "the most peaceful city in southeast Asia," and what numbeo.com ranks as the world's fourth safest place.
In the eyes of the common Filipinos, despite our so called democracy, our country has not advanced economically and instead, has breaded more corruption resulting to more criminality. In short, no jobs means more criminality, and with criminality on the rise, the lesser the possibility for investments in the country.
Nonetheless, Duterte has drawn criticism from various sources, particularly the press and the Philippine National Police, which contest the effectiveness of his policies.
Mayor Digong had been urged to run for the Philippine presidency numerous times, but refused these offers until well into 2015 on the grounds of a "flawed government system", old age and opposition from his family.
Nevertheless, on November 21, 2015 he declared his candidacy in the 2016 electoral practice for the office of the President and winning the position.
His policy on investment opportunities and job generation during the campaign period have allowed the Filipinos a glimpse on how he succeeded in changing the image of Davao as one of the thriving business centers of the country, and may soon be applied to the nation.
The common Filipinos see Digong as one with him in achieving the goal of making our country great again. But this can only be achieved if we support him in his endeavor.
Although we are now being fed with his initial policy direction on how we can develop, everyone seems to look at it as a "Wait and See" attitude. If this would be the case, then we might end up achieving nothing for us.
One thing we have to look for is on how his advocacy on having a federal form of government can be achieved. The question on how will the Cordillera Administrative Region be placed if ever federalism will be achieved. Will we now become an autonomous state?
As it is, Mayor Digong may and will continue to give us statements and one liners for change. But change may only be done if we start the change within us.
And weather you voted for him or not, we still have the duty and obligation as Filipinos to support our duly elected President of the Philippines, where ever we may be.
To Mayor and soon to be President Digong, our hats off and congratulations.