By: Mary May A. Abellon
President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the 16th President of the Republic of the
Philippines elected by the Filipino people, receiving 16,601,997 votes in the last national
elections.
The people have seen him as a catalyst
for change, providing leadership for the country. Indeed, Pres. Duterte did not disappoint the Filipinos
that even just days from his presidency, more than majority of the people have
seen the changes they all wanted.
Mary Faye Jane R. Guillena, 31, entrepreneur
and a resident of Barangay Estaka, Dipolog City was full of praises for Pres.
Duterte.
“Ok kaayo ang pagdumala ni Pres.
Duterte sa atong nasud tungod kay daghang milikay na ug gamit sa illegal
drugs,” she stressed during the interview in her little store and carenderia.
(I am very contented with Pres.
Duterte’s governance in our country because many have now avoided using illegal
drugs.)
She added that the children were
no longer roaming and wandering around the city every night because parents
became more responsible and strict of not letting their children go out at
night.
Moreover, she was ecstatic in
narrating that her neighbors were no longer drinking alcoholic beverages in
sidewalks and no more singing in “videokes” from 10 p.m. onwards.
Absolutely, change has come and
Pres. Duterte becomes the living instrument of that transformation the people
wanted.
Raul Tindog, 57 years old, master
cutter of a small tailoring shop in Dipolog City was at first reluctant to
speak when this writer approached him with camera and microphone.
But as we told him that we will be
asking about his views on Pres. Duterte’s first 50 days of presidency, he
smiled gleefully and expressed his thoughts out.
“Sa tinood lang wala ko mibutar
niya, pero para nako okay kaayo si Duterte pagka president. Dako kayo ug
kausaban ang akong nakita sama sa pagpakgang sa drugs. Kuntentong kuntento kaayo
ko, siguro padulong nata sa kauswagan. Mitoo ko nga maubos na ang krimen.
Nagmahay ko nganong wala nako siya gibotaran sa eleksiyon,” Mang Raul said.
(Honestly, I did not vote for him
but for me Duterte is very acceptable as president. I’ve seen a big difference in
the way he fights illegal drugs. I am very much contented, I think we are now
headed for progress and development. I believe that crime rate decreases. I
regret I did not vote for him last election.)
In
Zamboanga del Norte, the people hoped that the President will succeed in having
the people follow his policies especially those that are difficult to enforce.
