Open letter to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

Congratulations for being elected as the president of the Philippines. Our Almighty God had spoken through His people that you will be tasked with the highest position of all government employees in the Philippine Islands, effective June 30, 2016.

Truly, the Filipino electorate is now mature and literate. Even with the absence of money and political machineries, you won in the presidential race with a landslide victory. Despite the money and political macheniries used by your opponents, the voice of the Filipino people had firmly decreed that you will be the president.

The Filipinos wanted change. Those who voted for you had expressed their votes as a kind of protest votes against the traditional system employed by the past presidents of the Philippines. The Filipino people are tired in hearing beautiful speeches without being transformed into concrete actions to help the poor and the oppressed. The third and second citizens of our country, seek actions instead of verbal utterances which easily vanished in thin air.

The previous presidents of the Philippines were propagating that our country’s economy had improved. However, such economic boom, if  truly existing, was not felt by the poor people. The tables of the poor still lack the proper food for their nourishment. Many people are still facing the same problems: as to where to find money to buy medicine, food, and other common needs. Many parents cannot afford to send their children to school because of lack of financial capacity.

We, in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, are joining our prayers that our Almighty God will help you in this gigantic task in leading this country towards real social and economic upliftment. Truly, being a president of a nation is not an easy task. However, with the help of our Sovereign Lord, you can do the great change which you had promised to the people.

Your promise to stop the drug menace in our country seems to be impossible in the perspective of men. However, according to the Bible – “For with God nothing is impossible.” If your seek the Lord’s guidance and Divine Assistance, you can successfully stop this problem on drug abuse in our country.

When I saw you through TV crying on the tomb of your parents, after you won the presidential elections, I truly admire you. For me crying is not an act of cowardice and weakness, rather it is a sign of a person’s strength through humility and meekness. As we all know, the Lord Jesus Christ conquered the world not by physical power and human might, but by love and humility. Being the Son of God, he lowered Himself as a slave, obedient even to the death, which only heinous criminals deserve.

I also agree with you that religious leaders should set good examples and should refrain to act as modern day hypocrites, even worse than the pharisees during the time of Jesus. These religious leaders should stop criticizing if they could not offer alternative solutions which could help solve the problems our country is facing.

Our nation is facing great, great, huge problems! However, we plead that you shall remain in faith, always believing that God is bigger than all these problems.

Thank you Mr. President and may God give you long life with good health and peace of mind despite all the problems you are facing as the leader of this nation.

(Sgd) Atty. Enerio N. Ocariza Jr.

Church Elder-Lapu-Lapu Center

Pro-Bonu Legal Counsel

Central Visayan Conference

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Jail/Leprosareum Ministry Coordinator