Watch out for Santo Rodrigo

MANILA, Philippines – Even a confessed executioner and foul-mouthed womanizer can find his road to Damascus and be called “Santo Rodrigo.”

This is how some political backers of controversial Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte regard the public umbrage at his antics as he positions himself as a formidable presidential candidate in the 2016 elections.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, president of the PDP-Laban which is supporting Duterte’s presidential bid, admitted they are trying to help the mayor tone down his tough talking and philandering ways as he aims for the country’s highest position.

“Yes, just continue to monitor the new Duterte. You will now start calling him Santo Rodrigo,” Pimentel said.

Duterte has reportedly been advised by his partymates not to take new lovers as his personal life would now be subject to public scrutiny.

The mayor is legally separated from his wife and has a partner with whom he has a child. He claims to have two girlfriends.

He recently sparked outrage for cussing at Pope Francis after being caught in traffic during the papal visit in January, but he denied his cuss words were directed at the pontiff.

Duterte, along with supporters, went to the Commission on Elections yesterday to file his certificate of candidacy for president, and was told by Comelec officials the COC he filed last Nov. 27 was in order.

Pimentel said he agreed that the mayor should show more finesse in his pronouncements and actions.

He urged the public to “continue to monitor the pronouncements of Mayor Duterte” in the next few days.

“Beginning today and compare it with his past pronouncements and you judge whether he is a changed man and whether he has reached the level of a saint,” Pimentel said.

On his “love” for women, Pimentel said the mayor has been urged not to add more names to his list of lovers.

At the end of the day, Pimentel conceded that it would ultimately be up to the voters to decide if they still want Duterte, who topped the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey of possible presidential candidates.

“That’s the message of Mayor Duterte. The messenger can love four women. So it’s going to be the voters’ decision. Will you listen to the message or will you ignore the message because you do not like the messenger,” the senator said.

According to Pimentel, there is more to Duterte than his womanizing ways and his recent badmouthing of Pope Francis.

“It’s how I understand his life story. He’s telling his life story because he is running – that he loves four women. So be it, it’s past. This is part of his life story,” Pimentel said in Filipino.

Pimentel said the party supports Duterte, primarily for his support for federalism, his all-out war against criminality and corruption.

‘Holy’

Duterte himself said there had been episodes of sanctity in his life, like when he felt “holy” during his visits to the San Agustin Church when he was still a young student of Lyceum of the Philippines University and San Beda College in Manila.

From Comelec at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, the 70-year-old Duterte made a quick trip yesterday to the San Agustin Church to pray – and where he recalled his moments of piety as a young man.

However, he and his vice presidential candidate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano did not enter the church because there was a wedding ceremony going on and there was no available parking space.

They were about to leave when one of the church staff Teresa Saguban told the senator that there was a small prayer room at the back of the church.

Duterte spent about three minutes of quiet time to pray at the Adoration Chapel. After praying, Duterte told reporters that as a young student he would often visit the church because his dormitory was at the nearby YMCA in Manila. He said the experience “made me holy.”

He said he wanted to meet with a priest before leaving and while waiting, his attention was caught by the smell of food being cooked for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

When he and Cayetano checked on what’s being prepared, they were each served fried lumpia. The mayor promised the church staff he would cook for them if they visit Davao.

Fr. William Arana, prior of the Convent of San Agustin, arrived shortly and shook hands with the mayor.

When the priest, who is from Iloilo, asked what he could do for the Mayor, Duterte replied, “Just pray for me, Father.”

Look deeper into killings

Meanwhile, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III said now is the best time to look deeper into allegations of human rights violations against Duterte.

The allegations of human rights violations against the tough talking mayor reemerged due largely to his own public pronouncements about killing criminals.

Amnesty International (AI) previously aired its concern about the reports of killings in Davao allegedly carried out by the so-called Davao Death Squad of Duterte.

Osmeña said that a lot of threats being issued by Duterte were just meant to scare off criminals in Davao City.

According to Osmeña, AI should just go to Davao City and conduct its own investigation into the reports.

“Of course, if I was AI I would express concern. I would, before going further, send a team to check since they deploy investigating teams anyway,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said he is urging Duterte to send out an invitation to AI to visit Davao City and see for themselves if the rumors are true.

Pimentel said he met with representatives of AI the other day and they did not raise the issue of Duterte’s alleged human rights violations.

With no cases filed against Duterte, Pimentel said the reports are nothing more than rumors for now.

However, Pimentel said he expects the issue to be raised during the campaign period and Duterte would just have to address it.

“It will be raised during the campaign. It’s a political issue then he will answer it,” Pimentel said.

Both Pimentel and Osmeña expect Duterte to cut down on rhetoric, especially after he drew flak for cursing Pope Francis.

“I’m sure that he is going to tone it down because he already got into trouble for the Pope Francis comment. I’m sure he was carried away but now he has to be a little more circumspect because what you say in Manila is sometimes broadcasted throughout the world,” Osmeña said. – Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan