Duterte 101

ROSES & THORNS - If I were to be given the chance to teach again, I would have a class called Duterte 101. In all my life, I have never known a leader as famous and at the same time as infamous as Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

- PIA ROCES MORATO

Generally speaking, the system of governance around the world may vary in form and content because of the diverse types of political systems, all of which (at least most of them) have the basic objective of providing a more effective governance to all members of the population, where their hopes and aspirations are fulfilled. Our national government is the official face of our country, with local governments being the lowest tier in the administration system that, in turn, help in making it possible for national government to implement its policies.

Having said all this, I can't help but recall a statement that former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte made during the Senate hearing of the Blue Ribbon committee on the war on illegal drugs during the Duterte administration. While I really have no personal axe to grind against Senator Risa Hontiveros, and truth be told she has firmly and consistently stood her ground on all the issues she has raised, I have to however agree with former president Rodrigo Duterte when he said that the honorable senator never had the chance to solve community problems on the ground.

I'll be truthful and say that while I support FPRRD, not everything that he has said or done has been to my liking and in the past, I have many times found myself squirming with some of his statements but, let's be objective, as after all, this is just a small example of what some of us are trying to achieve in terms of successfully solving the intrinsic challenges in the cognitive domain.

While many still look at personalities involved in this hearing, including the very blatant political divide, one must, whether he or she likes it or not, admit that FPRRD struck a very good point on the issue of the war on drugs.