Duterte hints he just might run to appease supporters

by Chito A. Fuentes

BALANGA CITY, BATAAN - Mayor Rodrigo Duterte might just file his certificate of candidacy for a very unusual reason - to appease the people who want him to run.

It was the first time the mayor gave a hint that he just might make a go for the highest office of the land, music to the ears of his supporters who have been asking him to do that for several months now.

Duterte advance team at the Petron Clubhouse in Limay, Bataan (from left, Maribojoc Mayor Jun Evasco, writer Chito Fuentes, Luzon Coordinator Butch Ramirez, Davao 3rd District City Councilor Joselle Dilig Villafuerte, who is from Bataan, and Davao pomelo King Meloy Mercado)

“Para paligayahin ko yung mga tao na gustong tumakbo ako (to appease the people who want me to run)”, the mayor said matter-of-factly while referring to a TV interview the previous night.

It turned out that Duterte was only trying to light up his audience of parents, teachers and local government officials during an educational summit held at Louis Resort in this city.

Duterte has been resisting calls for him to run for president after he started going around to promote his calls for a shift to federalism.

The mayor was trying to make it casual when he followed it up with an unusual request.

“If I happen to file my certificate of candidacy, then do not vote for me,” the mayor said.

He warned that if he wins, “it would be bloody.”

Duterte lamented that he seems to be the only one concerned with the problem.

“What you see and hear on television are candidates cutting each other’s throat but wala silang program of government on the breakdown of the law, order and criminality,” he added.

Duterte is credited for turning Davao City around from being the killing fields of the 80s to the safest city in the country today.

Duterte acknowledged that it comes with a price.

“Ako binibira nila ng extrajudicial killing, nagsasalvage daw tayo ng kriminals (They hit me for extrajudicial, we supposedly salvage criminals),” he pointed out.

The mayor, however, pointed to the state of the country’s judicial system where criminals who are sentenced to prison enjoy their time in Muntinglupa.

Duterte said there is no problem if the five pillars of justice are working well and functioning at a maximum efficiency.

“They have every reason to crucify me,” he said referring to his critics.

Unfortunately, Duterte said drugs remains the biggest problem in the country, reiterating his warning that the Philippines might become “the next Mexico”. 

To many Filipinos including many in his audience here who excitedly lined up for groupies and selfies, only Duterte can prevent that from happening. (CHITO A. FUENTES)