Random talks validate SWS results

Support for President Rodrigo Duterte in the Visayas remains strong as the President reaches his first 100 days in office.
(CDN FILE)

He made international headlines for having no qualms about his bloody war on illegal drugs.

For naming and shaming alleged drug personalities on national television, he too earned praises from his loyal followers.

Despite controversies surrounding him, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed President Rodrigo Duterte gaining the approval of his constituents in the Visayas with a “very good” net satisfaction rating of +62.

The SWS ratings (+64 nationwide) barely caught anyone by surprise.

Across many socioeconomic classes, within every Filipino’s family and friends, there are those who admire Duterte’s unconventional and controversial ways.

In Cebu, men on the street interviews conducted by Cebu Daily News showed a validation of the SWS Visayas poll with several respondents giving Duterte high marks.

The CDN survey, though totally random, showed that except for one, all interviewees admire and support Duterte.

From the aspiring lawyer interviewed by CDN, to the tireless vendor, respondents remained smitten by the President’s Bisaya charisma.

At times foregoing diplomacy, Duterte often resorts to insults to defend some of his most controversial statements but these are just the President’s “point-blank take on issues”.

And a needed precursor for change, according to people satisfied with his first 100 days in office, like 29-year-old Dexter Rosales, a law graduate.

According to Rosales, this is exactly what makes Duterte a good leader who will steer the country to a better path.

“He is quick to address the basic needs of the people and strict in implementing laws,” Rosales said.

Like many of Duterte’s supporters, Rosales blamed media for controversies arising from the President’s expletive-laden pronouncements.

“Although he is usually taken out of context by the media, I feel a lot safer walking alone at night because there has noticeably been less criminal activities in the area and my confidence and respect for the police has been restored,” he said.

Meanwhile, US-based mother-of-two Jeanne Marie Pastrano said that considering all the controversies, it felt as though Duterte has been in office for years now and not just
a hundred days.

But believing in “his love for the Philippines despite all the bad publicity”, she told CDN that she would be giving the President a grade of 8.

“I couldn’t give a perfect 10 mostly because of the terrible PR and his tactless remarks. That’s definitely one thing I want him to improve on,” she said.

“I know this love will drive him to make the right decisions for our country,” Pastrano added.

For 27-year-old businesswoman Jorgelynne Ang, she couldn’t be happier with the way government offices, she said, had become more efficient since Duterte took the over the reins of government.

“Under the Duterte administration, I would say that the most personal impact it made on us was when my partner got his Philippine passport in just 10 business days,” she said, adding that she was also happy with drug pushers and users voluntarily surrendering to police.”

However, the young businesswoman wanted to know more from government about the kind of help the surrenderers were getting for their immediate rehabilitation.

“I admire the work he has done for the first few months of his term but I just wish he would be more mindful with his words or better yet, keep his mouth shut because clearly, it gets the best of him,” she said.

For account analyst Mav C., 27, Duterte’s administration deserved an 8 for ushering in changes.

According to Mav, a noticeable change under the Duterte government was the faster processing of driver’s licenses and a reduced number of fixers.

For his part, habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) driver Ronello Absin, 40, said that the rising number of drug-related deaths should not be a cause of alarm because it was
simply part of the anti-drug campaign and cannot be avoided.

“Ila man nang tinuyuan, gisudlan man nah nila (They asked for it because they went into it),” he said shaking his head.

For water vendor Janno Tenepre, 45, however, the rising death toll in police operations could be a bit worrisome; but he supports Duterte’s drug war just the same.

Tenepre explained that though the anti-drug campaign had its good side, especially in discouraging the youth from getting into illegal drugs, he has qualms about all the killings for religious reasons.

“Naa’y mga kausaban but bati sad ang uban kay imbes ang Ginoo ang mohukom sa tawo, siya man sad ang mokuan parte og mga patay (There are changes but what I don’t like is that instead of God judging people, he decides on who dies),” Tenepre lamented.

Evangeline Hemelga, 48, another street vendor who sells fans along the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino, said Duterte has brought in nothing but positive change.

“Now I can really feel the change. I’m no longer scared of getting robbed of the little sales I have at night,” she told CDN in Cebuano.

But for street vendor Maria Juana Ocariza, 54, Duterte needs to hit the road, following several “missteps”.

“Wa ko kauyon sa iyang gibuhat kay daghan kaayo siya og gipamatay. Ultimong mga inosente, naapil. Di gyud maayo. Klarohon unta nila og unsa ilang tirahan, di ka’y pasagad na lang sila og tira, sama anang katorse anyos nga naamong tungod lang ana. Di ko ni Duterte. Gusto gani ko nga siya mopahawa (I don’t agree with what he’s done because he has killed many, even the innocent. That’s not good. They should have clear targets and not just fire at anyone like that 14-year-old who got shot. I’ve had enough of Duterte. I want him to leave),” said Ocariza.