Overwhelming vote tells us Duterte anointed to lead country

PRESUMPTIVE President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, still weeks from his inauguration, has already “started the ball rolling” with announcements—of his policies, plans, choice of Cabinet members/department heads, among others. He has also made himself available for media interviews and for audiences with foreign diplomats, politicians and other prominent personalities who have trooped to his place in Davao City to personally congratulate him or to have a dialogue with him.

Duterte seems bent on projecting himself as the strong leader who will bring the nationwide changes he promised: an end to corruption and criminality and strict implementation of our laws and ordinances. This early, he warns erring policemen and law enforcement officers to perform their duties or get out of the service. He is also for the return of the death penalty for heinous crimes.

It is clear why Duterte got an overwhelming vote in spite of the criticisms heaped on his person by other sectors; and in spite of his being foul-mouthed, irreverent, a womanizer and his admission to violating the human rights of criminals.

The more than 16 million who voted for him hope that he is the answer to the nation’s ills, the strong leader who would impose national discipline, establish peace and order, and protect the people from worsening lawlessness.

They say, the voice of the people is the voice of God. Perhaps, we can say that Duterte is the “anointed” one to govern the country for the next six years. It is his destiny; he’s like other leaders who rose from obscurity to world prominence. What we can all do now as a nation is to wish him well and to pray for the success of his administration.

—THERESA PILI-NISPEROS, Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila