Wanted: A strong leader

A good number of us probably would have seen by this time videos or pictures of passengers travelling through Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA with their luggages and even hand-carried bags or baggages covered with plastic wrap, sometimes with an extra layer of packaging tape to secure the plastic wrap.

Then there is this little known service at the NAIA called ProtectaBag, an airport baggage and luggage wrapping service that is supposed to protect and shield luggages usually from rain damage, mishandling, accidental opening, and from items being inserted. An overnight sensation, all of a sudden, people are lining up to have their check-in and carry-on luggage wrapped for P160 per piece.

All these hassle and additional costs and unnecessary worries just because a few guys at the airport found a way to make a quick buck by planting bullets in the luggages of unsuspecting travellers and then extorting money from the victim.

The whole world knows about it. Foreign and international media outfits have feasted on this latest scandal to hit the Philippines, which seems never to run out of reasons to be embarrassed.

While everyone, including non-travellers, are alarmed, Malacañang and transport officials do not seem to share the same sentiment. President Aquino seems too quick to dismiss allegations of incompetence against Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado, a presidential relative.  Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma, meanwhile, belittles the planting bullet scandal by saying that while thousands use the airport terminals every day, only a few are found in possession of bullets.

This is what we get for electing an incompetent President, who cannot be expected to appoint competent people. There is no “K” in competent. Only in Kamag-anak, kabarilan, kaklase, kayosi.

The country is under siege from lawless elements.

There is a need to instill fear in the hearts of these criminals. And we can probably learn a thing or two from Davao City’s experience in dealing with criminality. But first things first: we need a strong leader.

Many believe that Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his probable running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano fit the bill. After all, both public servants have proven they are dead serious in going after crooks.

But of course, the question still remains whether or not Duterte will run for president.

PDP-Laban has chosen Duterte to be its presidential candidate in lieu of Martin Diño who withdrew his candidacy. And according to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, everything seems to be in order.

According to news reports, Jimenez has cited Section 19 of Comelec Resolution no. 9884 which states an “official candidate of a duly registered political party or coalition dies, withdraws, or is disqualified for any cause after the filing of COCs may be substituted by a candidate belonging to, and nominated by, the same PP or coalition.” This means that PDP-Laban has the right to have a substitute candidate.

It is personal

People have given Duterte one good reason to run for president: the need to restore peace and order in this country.

Then, of course, there is this other reason of not allowing Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas to succeed at becoming president.

Duterte was visibly mad during a radio interview, he blamed Roxas for rumors that have spread about the Davao mayor being afflicted with cancer, when in fact it is Duterte’s first wife Elizabeth who is sick. Duterte also allegedly said during the radio interview that Roxas is unfit for the presidency and that he had more things to say about Roxas but would do so at the appropriate time.

There is this nagging suspicion that LP operatives are also behind the demeaning text blast against BPO workers alleged to have come from the Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero camp, the smear campaign against Vice President Jejomar Binay, and the questions relating to Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s health.

Roxas, of course, has denied any knowledge about these black ops, but as party standard bearer, it is hard to believe he did not know.

Roxas is said to be a nice person, according to people close to him. But niceness does not make one a president. At least that is what the LP attack group, whose members reportedly include former Defense Secretary and Roxas lawyer Avelino “Nonong” Cruz and Ricky Carandang, believes. And now, Roxas is perceived by the public to be a ruthless candidate who will stop at nothing to get what he has wanted for a long time, to become president of the Republic of the Philippines.

No thanks to his attack dogs.

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