Isn’t it wonderful to have a leader like President Duterte, who can make the hard decisions necessary to put order to a country in chaos? When Mr. Duterte decided to run for president he was forthcoming in his promise to bring change, wasn’t he? Isn’t change what the whole Philippines wanted then, which is why millions of voters embraced him? Now, change is here, but why are some people adamant to give it a chance? Did they expect change to be easy?
Repeatedly, the President has declared his intention to rid the government of corruption and promised that his will be a clean administration, isn’t it? Can’t people see the President’s sincerity?
For example, President Duterte’s campaign promise to wage war against illegal drugs—was that just hot air, or are we seeing results? Didn’t he name so many drug-trade protectors? Didn’t we see or hear that hundreds of thousands of drug peddlers and users nationwide have surrendered to authorities? Even the President—who openly declared he hates drugs—admitted he was surprised by the magnitude of the country’s drugs problem, didn’t he?
Aren’t we grateful to have a President who has accomplished so much in just two months in office? Didn’t he sign an executive order on the Freedom of Information in his first month in Malacañang? Aren’t people glad that Emergency 911 hot line and 8888 for corruption-related reports were launched as promised? Isn’t it important for us to note that crime rate is now down by 49 percent?
On the China-Philippines row at the West Philippine Sea, aren’t we happy to hear that our fishermen are no longer being harassed? By appointing former President Fidel V. Ramos as special envoy and negotiator, can’t we appreciate the President’s wisdom? Do we dare question his strategy to allow Ramos to communicate with his Chinese “old friends”? Don’t we also subscribe to the notion that building mutual trust is important to the long-term relationship between the Philippines and China? We won our case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, but can we realize our maritime entitlements without bilateral talks with China? Do we expect the Philippines and China to sit on the negotiating table when trust between the two countries is lacking?
Given the President’s comprehensive peace road map, is it too much for us to expect that peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front and the Bangsamoro peace deal will finally pay peace dividends?
Many sectors of society have their own reasons to be thankful to have Mr. Duterte in Malacañang, right? But are we ready to do our part to have meaningful change? Are we willing to give change a chance?