Playing with Fire
Duterte supporters react to our column
By Gonzalo Duque
THIS column has received many text messages from all corners including the provinces of Davao and Cotabato expressing approval to our suggestion that former Mayor Rody Duterte be made to run for president. We believe he would make a good president.
One of those who agreed to our suggestion was former Cotabato governor Manny Pinol Jr., former newsman who at once rallied his allies and friends to work for Duterte as possible presidential candidate.
It was Mortz Ortigoza, formerly a Mindanao regular now residing in Pangasinan who first texted us about the reaction of Duterte’s supporter in Mindanao to our column.
Mortz said that the Duterte for president movement has gone viral so that those who were laughing at the idea are now eating their words.
Incidentally, while we were at the wake of Mrs. Laida Gumarang, wife of former Bonuan Gueset Kapitan Angel Gumarang last Wednesday evening, we received a phone call from Ben Diansay, publisher-editor of Mindanao Gazette Daily and president of the Mindanao Integrated Journalists Inc., to inform us that Mindanaoans were able to read our column probably thru the internet about our Duterte endorsement. They were elated and inspired that a columnist in Luzon would pick up the idea.
In our talk, Ben Diansay told us that a big symposium organized by Duterte fans will be held in Davao City on December 1, tomorrow, with former President Fidel V. Ramos and Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane among those invited to grace the occasion.
Ben added that other top political leaders and former government officials have committed their presence in the symposium.
Like Mortz Ortigoza, the Mindanao journalist Ben Diansay told us, that Duterte is more than willing to speak before Pangasinenses in any convocation especially when carried by broadcast and TV networks.
Mukhang nagkaka-totoo ang advocacy ng so-called silent majority who are sick and tired of the present dispensation. Alam po ninyo na ang column na ito ay laging tumututok sa mga katiwalian ng gobyerno at ng mga excesses ng ating lipunan.
Suffice it to say that “Playing with Fire” will remain committed to this cause in journalism which is to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.
As we said in our last column ang mga mamamayan ng ating bansa ay naghahanap ng totoong leader who can bring this nation to an uninterrupted progress, if not, greatness.
Medyo imposible ata ang objective or goal na ito under the circumstances kasi up to now, we are hogged down by massive and unconscionable graft and corruption, local and national levels, and those being blamed for these ills are our own leaders, local and national, the very people who are supposed to enjoy our trust to lead us out of our rotten system and graft-ridden society.
Sana magkakaroon ng direction ang noble idea na ito.
This column will tirelessly work for this seemingly ambitious or outlandish advocacy. But we tell you, at the rate we are receiving several replies and text messages and in the internet and from words of mouth we believe that the type of leader our country needs fits Duterte to a T.
People sometimes refers to this former Davao City mayor Dirty Harry because of his tough actions against criminals, crooks in our society.
Which reminds us of another Mindanao leader, the late former mayor Cesar Climaco who valiantly and boldly wiped away the criminals of Zamboanga City.
Bakit kaya ang lumalabas na mga totoong leader ng ating bansa ay mga taga-Mindanao?
* * * *
We just mentioned about the death of Mrs. Laida Gumarang who succumbed to multiple organs failure at age 49.
We were struck with sadness because while she was struggling for life in the hospital, her husband, Angel Gumarang was in the midst of a fight as coach of the LNU-Dukes in its championship game with UPANG’s players. The triumph and victory of LNU was dampened by the blow-by-blow account thru text to Angel concerning his wife’s condition at the Nazareth Hospital. Laida, sadly, did not make it. She died with all the members of the family beside her. We told Angel that God has a great plan for Laida.
May she rest in peace.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments