By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
Strangely, President Duterte’s preaching before his bestie and spiritual compass, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, of the top three things Filipinos should look for in the next president suit my top priorities in picking the leader to vote for on May 9.
There could be no arguing with his three-fold yardstick for the leader the Filipino nation should yearn for. To recap, he said the top qualifications are being first, “a compassionate leader;” second, “decisive;” and third, “a good judge of character.”
Mr. Duterte elaborates on these points during his televised chat with Quiboloy by citing how his father took in the homeless and hungry at their home when he was young to exemplify compassion; emphasized how decisiveness was a trait of a lawyer who knows the limits of the law; and stressed on the ability to judge character as critical in delegating powers to people in government.
At this point, though, I’d be beating a dead horse if I hoped the President took his own advice. It’s simply too late in his term to make the change. But I do appreciate his putting these three traits out there for all his die-hard supporters to breathe in.
Although he has said it too often that he is not endorsing any candidate, unless there is a “compelling reason” to do so, it seems to me that his deepest and ultimate choice for a successor is the one candidate his political pride can’t take.
Of the pre-election survey frontrunners, doesn’t the candidate Mr. Duterte describes as the most deserving of being the next president – compassionate, a lawyer, and a good judge character – point to the lady in pink? Wittingly or otherwise, that sounds to me like an endorsement of Vice President Leni Robredo.
If I may add my own three top pieces of advice to a Duterte-adoring audience on what to look for in the next president, it would be the avoidance of a leader bearing the three fatal traits of our current resident in Malacañang.
First is the shameful retreat from defending the Philippines’ sacred maritime territories even with the weight of an internationally accepted legal victory in our favor. Second is a failure in character that has resonated to the global community as a lost cause in decency and civility to even afford the Philippines confidence in sharing business opportunities, policies, privileges, and assistance. And third, the wanton disregard of the law and the sanctity of life in dealing with criminal suspects and offenders as if they have no human rights at all.
Perhaps, Mr. Duterte’s legacy would be judged in a brighter light had he followed his own standards.
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