by Chito A. Fuentes
PAGADIAN CITY – To many people, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is no longer just the “face” of federalism.
Duterte has declared on many occasions that he is going around the country for the cause of federalism, a task which was entrusted to him by virtue of his being the most prominent government official from the country’s second biggest island.
During a recent federalism summit in Valencia City, Bukidnon, Duterte revealed that the task was given to him by former Assemblyman Ruben Canoy and ex-Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. who are among the federalism pioneers in Mindanao.
Canoy, who was seated prominently on stage inside the tightly-packed gym, nodded in agreement.
Duterte insists that federalism is the country’s “last card” to avert a breakdown in peace and order in Mindanao if the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) fails.
The BBL faces rough sailing in Congress and is expected to go up all the way to the Supreme Court due to questions on constitutionality in certain provisions.
Unfortunately for Duterte though, his passionate campaign for federalism has unwittingly captured the imagination of more and more Filipinos who have since realized that he could be their “best card” in next year’s presidential elections.
The more he deflects questions about a presidential run, the more the question pops up in his sorties.
While Duterte’s strong following was expected in Mindanao and the Visayas where his exploits as city mayor of the country’s biggest city have become legendary, his visits to different places in Luzon showed he is not entirely unknown there.
Recently, Duterte visited Calapan City, Mindoro, Romblon and Daet, Camarines Norte and the huge turnouts there showed warm welcome for the urban legend.
Slowly, people in many places of the country have started to take a second look at federalism – a political system completely alien to many Filipinos.
As subsequent events showed, the people are in fact turning up in huge numbers for the “singer” and not exactly the “song”.
The persistent calls for him to aspire for the presidency have refused to die down despite his persistent refusal and, in fact, has gained ground instead.
His strong showing in two recent surveys only served to fan the flames.
Duterte tied for third with Manila Mayor Erap Estrada in the Pulse Asia survey conducted in the first week of March.
He again tied for third with Secretary Mar Roxas, the presumptive bet of the administration Liberal Party in the Social Weather Stations survey.
In both polls, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Grace Poe finished 1-2.
On Monday, Duterte will again tackle federalism in Pagadian City, originally one of the first cities on his schedule for the federalism campaign.
Bad weather cancelled the first schedule last Jan.26, prompting a special trip today to fulfill a promise he made to return.
The poster boy of federalism will once again tackled his advocacy with the same passion that he has shown in all his previous speaking engagements.
There is enough reason to expect though that like in all his previous engagements, many people are coming for “the singer and not the song.”
And like what happened in all of his previous engagements, the question he dislikes to face will again mostly likely pop-up: will he heed the call to run in 2016?
No matter what his answer will be this time, there is no denying that Duterte is no longer just a “face” of federalism. To many people, he has become a symbol of hope in a country where there are so many reasons to feel helpless. (CHITO A. FUENTES)
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