Reject Duterte brand of leadership

President Duterte has turned our country into a topsy-turvy land defined by a culture of violence and lawlessness; extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses; a crisis of confidence in institutions such as the Supreme Court, the Senate, House of Representatives, Commission on Elections, and local government units; wanton violation of the Constitution and democratic system; suppression of the freedom of speech and of the press; historical revisionism, political patronage, and rampant militarization; jarring mass poverty, widespread corruption, unaccomplished benefits for workers and the poor, and inferior health programs; complaisant subservience to China; and the betrayal of our country and people with his divisive, incompetent, autocratic leadership.

Such ills must not describe the next presidency. We have a chance at real change in 2022. Let’s not elect/reelect the self-advancing wreckers of the nation’s hard-earned democratic institutions—those mutilators of our political-social-moral-economic fabric.

Miriam Defensor Santiago said that academic, professional, and moral excellence are needed for the presidency. Vice President Leni Robredo has these qualities, and more. We, the 1,000 plus-members, families, and friends of Mga Apo’ Ni Tomas are ready for her presidency.

Pit M. Maliksi, [email protected]