Trump and Duterte: Rockstar presidents

Last Wednesday, Nov. 6 PST, we witnessed the greatest comeback in the history of politics.  Former president Donald Trump trashed his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, to recapture the White House and become the 47th president and first president of the United States since Grover Cleveland in 1893 to return to office after a defeat.  

Trump’s political comeback is nothing but spectacular, for it came after two assassination attempts and two impeachments aided by nine years of demonization by a heavily partisan media establishment.  

Similarly, in the Philippines, we saw how former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte – and now, his family – endured nine years of relentless vilification campaign – only to emerge as the most beloved president of the Philippines at all times at the conclusion of the Oct. 28 Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing. 

Four weeks ago, critics and detractors of the 16th president already predicted the decline and collapse of what they derisively called the House of Duterte. Thus, when former president Duterte appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing, they all believed this was the start of the downfall. But expectation, as we all know, is far from reality. Little did these critics and detractors know that Oct. 28, 2024 would mark a watershed in the Duterte saga, as the former president became a stuff of legend, proving his continuing hold on the Filipino imagination.  

In the words of the Gen Z, former president Duterte, just like president-elect Trump, is a rockstar!

Two years of toxic political attacks against the Dutertes under the current government went down the drain. The Filipino people once again got enamored with the former chief executive as fPRRD defended his record with conviction and outwitted adversaries. His presence was undeniably powerful as he set the tone of the hearing. 

Weaponizing the war on drugs against the former president was a colossal mistake. These critics and detractors truly never learned. They are attacking the most popular president of the Philippines in history and attacking his campaign platform that won him the highest seat of the land.

How dare they say Duterte’s drug war is “fake” when index crimes from 2016 to 2021 decreased by 73.76 percent, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government. 

Does anybody believe that the Philippines is safer and the people are more secure than ever under PBBM? Even drug pushers are now emboldened to go inside the Malacañang compound where the President holds office and resides.

The Senate hearing was then turned into a showcase of leadership, proving that genuine leaders like fPRRD stand firm for what they believe in. He took responsibility and reiterated to protect the uniformed personnel who acted in accordance with the law. 

The Duterte patriarch exclaimed, “If I can, I will do it again” and the Senate gallery wildly applauded.

The biggest loser in the Senate hearing was former senator Leila de Lima. The former lawmaker was not able to prove the extrajudicial killings that happened while Mr. Duterte was a mere provincial city mayor and Ms. De Lima was the head of the Human Rights Commission of the Arroyo administration and powerful member of the Cabinet under the second Aquino administration. All accusations are based on hearsay and hearsay carries no weight in the court of law. 

Following closely was Senator Risa Hontiveros, who was obviously engaged in political grandstanding by attempting to get an “admission” from a prosecutor-turned-president. While Senator Hontiveros deludes herself into thinking she is doing a good job in the Senate, the public saw the lady senator as a politician, like the rest of the members of the House of Representatives quad committee (quad comm), so preoccupied defending the drug pushers and drug addicts that they have not even considered the plight of the victims of those drug addicts who were murdered, raped or robbed.  

Speaking of quad comm, the Senate hearing was a big blow to the integrity of the quad comm after the damning testimony of Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo. Quad comm, is now HuwadCom especially after the former Mandaluyong City police chief claimed that Sta. Rosa, Laguna Lone District Representative Dan Fernandez and Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante had met and had pressured him to confirm the drug war reward system. The two congressmen admitted to meeting the police official privately. 

Why would a police colonel jeopardize his 30-year career by telling lies? Between a PNP official and the two members of the quad comm mentioned, we certainly know who are lying. Snappy salute to Col. Grijaldo for speaking the truth. 

As I said on numerous occasions, these hearings are political witch hunts to pulverize the Dutertes, including their allies, in the political landscape. We expect no tangible laws to be passed as a result of these hearings. 

This was the reason for the absence of the former president in the quad comm. His counsel, in a letter addressed to the House of Representatives last Nov. 5, said that the inquiry is a “mere political ploy aimed to indict [fPRRD] for crime or crimes he did not commit.”

Today, we yearn for patriotic leaders – the likes of Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte – who know what to do when the going gets tough.  People want real action and quick results, not feel-good speeches, in the face of tremendous challenges facing us.

FPRRD is one president who has given his entire life to serve and protect Filipinos. It is not ambition that drove him to seek the presidency but his sincere love of the Philippines, where his hope is a comfortable life for all. 

Indeed, the only way to defeat the Dutertes is to outperform their legacy. The Filipinos, like the Americans, won’t be fooled again.