Who has the right to say: "Ayosin natin ang Pilipinas?"
In fairness to Senator Grace Poe, her advertisement handlers are doing a better job than those who are making Secretary Mar Roxas' ads. Poe's messages are hitting the targets, resonating among the voters, all because they are directed at the level of "feelings," while those of Roxas' are all cerebral. This explains why Mar Roxas is doing better among the A and the B levels, the business and corporate types. Grace Poe is doing well among the C, D, and E crowds. That is why Grace Poe is the real opponent of Vice President Jojo Binay. Poe's messages are taking away a large chunk of supporters from Binay. Mar Roxas is difficult to sell to the masses. Despite his crumpled polo barong, and his unkempt hair, he is too "ilustrado," too "haciendero." Although a mestiza, Grace Poe is scoring well among the "hoi polloi." and Binay looks like a fisherman and a farmer rather than a UP lawyer that he is.
The message "Ayosin natin ang Pilipinas" is very effective. The one who created such a tag line must be a genius in marketing. Those who are suffering daily from the horrendous traffic, those who had been victimized by "laglag bala" and those who are terrified daily by drug addicts, hold-uppers, kidnappers, carnappers, and the millions of jobless, homeless, and hopeless Filipinos would agree that there is a very urgent need to fix the country. The contractual workers, the causal workers as well as the job order employees hired by the government bureaucracies would agree that there indeed is a need to make "ayos" this nation. The suffering masses agree that we need to fix this nation.
But who is the most qualified, the most competent, and the most credible candidate who can fix this country of 110 million Filipinos, about twelve million of whom are now working in more than 200 countries all over the world? Who among the presidentiables can fix this country with more than ten million unemployed workers, with more than twenty million underemployed, and where more than five thousand migrant workers are leaving every day in an endless diaspora, and in ceaseless search for decent and more reliable livelihood? Is it Grace Poe? Is it Mar Roxas? Is it Jojo Binay? Is it Miriam Defensor-Santiago? I honestly do not think so.
With due respect, I do not believe it is Grace Poe who can fix this country. She has not enough experience in national problem solving and high-level executive decision-making. Her Filipno citizenship is under a serious cloud of doubt. In fact, she once renounced Filipino citizenship and embraced US allegiance. When the country was suffering under a Martial law dictatorship, Grace Poe left this country and opted to be a citizen of another country. How can she claim to be ready to "ayos" this nation now? Neither is it Mar Roxas who is only sworn to "ituloy" ang "tuwad na daan." He will just perpetuate and give us more of the same. It is not Jojo Binay either with all the cases that he refuses to answer frontally and directly.
We also believe that Miriam is not serious enough on her declared candidacy. She does not even have a definite vice presidential candidate. There is no categorical, unequivocal and sure confirmation from Senator Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. that he has accepted the offer. While Grace, Binay and Roxas have their respective senatorial line-ups, Miriam does not have any. For these and for many other indications, the people are not fully convinced that the feisty Ilongga solon is serious on running for president this time. If she is that serious, the people are strongly doubting her state of health. Yes, Madam, your health is a valid election issue. We should be sure that the next president is perfectly well.
With all the above premises, the only remaining candidate or putative candidate who can fix the country is Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. He has declared that he was disillusioned by the decision made by the senate electoral tribunal on Senator Grace Poe's qualifications relative to the petition filed by Rizalito David. It is now more probable that Mayor Digong will finally accept the challenge. He can fix this country and clean it thoroughly. He can eliminate the drug lords, the gambling lords, the political warlords. He can wipe out the criminals, the terrorists, the rebels and the troublemakers.
Only Duterte has the right to say "Ayosin natin ang Pilipinas." Poe cannot do it. Roxas cannot do it. Binay will not do it. Defensor may not be up to it. Only Duterte can deliver on his words. His actions speak louder than all the other candidates' words.
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