Boholanos vented their ire on survey front runner PDP-Laban presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s “gutter statement” that spewed from his mouth during a political rally in Quezon City even as supporters of the Mayor heaped praises for showing his true self.
DYRD “Inyong Alagad” tracked the mindset of the Boholanos by asking them to reply to the survey question “Duterte’s results in presidential surveys continue to rise but was condemned for his vulgar statement about the Australian missionary that was raped and killed. “Do you believe that Duterte is fit to be president and why?”
Twenty five callers responded to the one hour and half survey with 60% of the phoned in responses lambasting and voicing their disgust over Duterte’s penchant for using invective during his public rallies and does not deserve to get elected to the highest position.
But 40% stood behind Duterte showing their admiration for admitting that “It’s my style. It’s my mouth. I said it in the heat of anger”. The pro Duterte callers proudly proclaimed him as the “political messiah” and savior of the people.
“You are setting a bad example for the youth; Shameless, un-presidentiable! Criminality cannot be licked by your behavior. You have no respect for the Filipinos, even the Pope. Degrading to women.” – these were the common responses from callers condemning Duterte.
“He is not a hypocrite. We need this brand of leadership. He is our hero. His public service is worth emulating and should be replicated. We need a strong hand to deliver us from evil” – a chorus of hallelujahs from Duterte’s supporters.
Duterte commented on the so-called “rape joke” which was according to him not meant to demean the women but refused to ask forgiveness for his actions.
The furor stemmed from Duterte’s controversial remark during a concert rally at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on April 12, 2016 where he recalled the 1989 gang rape of an Australian woman missionary Jaqueline Hamill by an inmate at the Davao City Police Office.
Duterte, in his usual deprecating manner was quoted as saying how beautiful the missionary was. He continued jokingly that he should have raped the missionary first before the hostage takers.
“They raped her ahead of me. Kill them all”, said Duterte as shown on the video clip that went viral over social media.
This is not the first time Duterte has shown to the public the ease in the art of swearing and did not spare Pope Francis, cursing the Pope over traffic gridlock caused by the papal motorcade during his visit to the Philippines.
“Pope, you son of a bitch. Go home. Don’t visit here anymore”. However, Archbishop Romulo Valles of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Davao confirmed a letter from Pope Francis accepting Duterte’s apology.
Valles hails from Maribojoc, Bohol, the hometown of ex rebel priest and Duterte’s national campaign manager, Mayor Leoncio “Tuloy” Evasco.
Duterte leads in the voter’s preference for president according to the Holy Name Bohol Poll 2016 with a score of 41% over Roxas 27%, Binay 14%, Poe 16% and Santiago 2%.(Chito M. Visarra)