Tingting worries over Duterte presidency

CEBU, Philippines - Former Cebu governor Vicente “Tingting” dela Serna has shared his worries on the aftermath of the May 9 elections.

He said that with both camps of presidential candidates Rodrigo Duterte and Mar Roxas becoming “violent” in their statements, their supporters might trigger conflict involving everybody.

“I hope I am wrong but I think that whoever wins naay gyud dyutay nga gubot.  The country has become very fragmented,” dela Serna said.

 He said that if Duterte wins, there may be military and police personnel who might not wwant his leadership because of his statements siding with the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines..

Dela Serna also criticized Duterte’s statements on cutting ties with ally countries, declaring martial law or closing Congress, extra judicial killings, and others.

“Duterte is a lawyer, (but) he has made statements that are not in line with the law,” said the former Cebu governor.

“Pero at the end of the day, kaingon ko porbida og tinud-on aning tawhana, pwerte gubota nato,” he added.

Dela Serna said that if Duterte is just playing the crowd to become president, there is nothing to fear.

If, however, Duterte makes good his promises to do all that he said he would, including extra-judicial killings all over the country, then he is a “dangerous man”.

If Duterte loses, on the other hand, dela Serna believed supporters of the Davao City mayor would lead a revolt, especially in Mindanao.

Dela Serna said that though his friends are rooting for Duterte, he was, out of fear for a Duterte presidency, voting for Senator Grace Poe. He clarified, though, that he was not endorsing Poe.

He said that his idea of a president is one who might not be able to do much for the country as much as the people want but would definitely not do anything to damage it more.

“Di na nato pa tiwasa’g guba ba.  We cannot get a perfect president, nagdamgo ta, even America will not have a perfect president, pero ari lang ta sa presidente nga di kaayo ta mosamot ka impiyerno ba,” dela he said.  (FREEMAN)