‘99% of Rody well-wishers jobseekers’

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – They come not only to wish him well, but also to apply for jobs.

A source close to incoming president Rodrigo Duterte estimates that 99 percent of his visitors are jobseekers.

“They seek positions in his coming government,” a source who declined to be named told The STAR.

With just over a month before he assumes the presidency on June 30, Duterte has yet to appoint people to several Cabinet posts and other key positions.

The influx of well-wishers may have been triggered by an announcement by his transition team that at least 421 jobs are available in the incoming Duterte administration.

The transition team has assigned a committee to screen applicants.

Duterte said applicants should allow the committee to publish their names in newspapers as among the jobseekers.

Most of those wishing to see Duterte carry with them thick folders or envelopes containing their resumés or of those they are recommending for certain positions.

They are usually veteran politicians and officials from past administrations.

They would gather in Duterte’s temporary offices at the Matina Enclaves or in the presidential suite of the Marco Polo Hotel for the chance to see him.

After the usual niceties, an applicant would express his main intention and leave his or her credentials on the desk of the incoming president. Some would remind him of their contribution to his campaign before leaving their papers.

“And then the visitor would go straight to telling Duterte that should he need to fill vacant positions, he could also say that he is recommending somebody else for the position,” the source said.

Boxes of resumés, application forms and other papers have been lying around Duterte’s temporary offices.

Meanwhile, the incoming president also had to grant media interviews. Duterte conducted his first press conference as sure election winner last May 16.

Snubbed?

Duterte’s pastor friend Apollo Quiboloy of the Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name expressed his dismay yesterday over what he believed was a snub by the incoming president.

Quiboloy said he felt slighted that he could no longer reach Duterte even by phone a week after the Davao City mayor took a break for a week after the May 9 elections.

He also said he could not get through to Duterte or have an appointment when he met his well-wishers at Matina Enclaves Residences last Monday and in the presidential suite of the Marco Polo Hotel last Wednesday.

The evangelist said Duterte had become unreachable even if he had been receiving hundreds of well-wishers for the past days.

“But it just didn’t include me. I feel that he (Duterte) has changed already,”  Quiboloy said, adding that he is not expecting anything in return for his wholehearted support for Duterte during the campaign.

Quiboloy was among the first to endorse Duterte when he decided to run for president last Nov. 27, 2015.

Duterte has been vocal about Quiboloy’s support for him and even about his using the evangelist’s private jet and Bell 429 chopper in his sorties during the campaign period.

Quiboloy said he is just wondering why suddenly he could not get through to his close friend and long-time buddy. 

He clarified what pains him is not about not being consulted on Duterte’s choosing his Cabinet members but on being snubbed by the incoming president.