There are many areas and initiatives where people can readily support President Duterte:
1) in weeding out corrupt and inefficient officials and employees, particularly at the Land Transportation Office/Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Pagcor, Department of Public Works and Highways;
2) in going after the real, big drug lords and tax evaders and their supporters. But with no exceptions, even if they happen to be his kumpare or campaign supporters. This will help show his character as a leader of great integrity. No extrajudicial killings or “palit ulo” though. And a big “NO!” to impeachment games, including those that his “supporters” are trying to arrange;
3) in upholding our national interests, be they economic or environmental, to affirm our sovereignty and preserve for the next Filipino generations our national patrimony. The President should take into consideration the counsel of experts who are not paid by oligarchs and neo-liberal monopolists. He should keep in their present positions the heads of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Health. They are “big assets” in his drive for clean governance.
The President should take note that his “advisers” are not helping him when they justify (defend) anything he says, even those that are bound to be interpreted as “alternative facts,” just so they themselves remain in the coattails of power.
I hope this letter catches the President’s attention. I know he is a sincere person, ready to help the needy and the poor. I personally witnessed how solicitous he was in helping an old PWD when we happened to take the same flight to Davao.
PROF. ROWENA BOQUIREN,
social scientist/historian