Duterte’s ascension

In formally assuming the country’s presidency today, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had set both his administration’s tone and goals which may appear modest to the country’s intellectual elite but which have long been sought for and actually demanded by the country’s voters.

Even before he became president, his vow to eradicate illegal drugs and other forms of criminality has been met with unprecedented action by the country’s law enforcement agencies as evidenced by the deaths and surrenders of suspected drug dealers in the past few weeks.

This had been buttressed, no doubt, by Duterte’s tough talk and stance that drew concern not only from the Catholic church but also the Commission on Human Rights, which the president has already indicated he will ignore.

In visiting Cebu for the “One Love, One Nation” thanksgiving concert, Duterte minced no words in saying that the criminals can only blame themselves if they refuse to surrender or give up on their trade because he will “kill them.”

The president’s strong language, while earning two thumbs support from the public, won’t be taken lightly by the country’s drug syndicates who have allegedly placed a P1-billion bounty on his head along with his PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

But while his war on crime can grab headlines, his statements on other issues are worth watching in the next few months. After warning mining companies to “do it right” or else be kicked out of the country, President Duterte also repeatedly made known his disgust for bureaucratic red tape and corruption.

Specifically, he called on agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to cut down and speed up the processing time for the application of passports and payments of dues and taxes.

While he gave those in charge a timetable to shape up and revamp their agencies, the president was realistic enough not to promise the public of overnight changes in the existing system. But his message was clear — there will be significant changes in the way government agencies will conduct transactions with the public, changes that have long been demanded.

All these changes will be accompanied by a mandate Duterte set for his administration to live simply and avoid the trappings of power. Expanding former president Benigno Aquino III’s prohibition on “wang wang (siren),” Mr. Duterte prescribed using Toyota Avanza in lieu of luxury cars and doing away with junkets.

With these changes and improvements, the country should expect better things from the Duterte administration and lend its support to its agenda not only to bring peace and instill discipline but also to deliver the long awaited promise of prosperity for every Filipino.