DESTINY, THE PRESIDENCY AND RODRIGO R. DUTERTE

By Manny Piñol

People who suspect that the Presidential candidacy of Martin Diño was part of the strategy of Mayor Rody Duterte and that he knew about it all along have it all wrong.

Duterte never knew about Diño’s decision to file his Certificate of Candidacy for President under PDP Laban but it was a move which saved the “Presidency” that millions of Filipinos are still hoping would come even when the man they would like to lead this country has time and again said “No.”

Had Diño not taken the Quixotic act of running for President, there would be no substitution to talk about now and Duterte would just be remembered in Philippine political history as the man who refused the Presidency.

I know the true story. I was there. But there will be a right time to write about it. That would be when Duterte has done his job in bringing true political and social transformation in the Philippines.

Right now, let us talk about Destiny, the Presidency and Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Two years ago, when I brought up the idea of the Presidency to Mayor Duterte, he casually brushed it off and said that he was not up to it.

I, however, warned him that he could not escape from his Destiny.

He has been repeating the line that if it is his destiny to become President, it would happen.

All throughout the long period of almost two years, Duterte has been consistent in saying “No” to the idea of the Presidency.

But while he could not be faulted for refusing to file his COC for President on October 16, people feel bad because Duterte “flirted” with the masses who wanted him to be President by telling them what a Duterte Presidency would be like.

“I do not covet the Presidency but if I become President …,” was the line that made people believe that Duterte may run for President.

“Pinaasa mo kami.” That is the common lament of many followers who call themselves the “DDS” or Duterte Diehard Supports, a name which is actually a pun for the vigilante group which is supposedly behind the cleansing of Davao City of dregs of society, the Davao Death Squad.

The Diño short-lived Presidential run was what I believe to be the turning point in the dramatic saga of Duterte’s Destiny to become President of this country.

Add to that the insistence and persistence of his millions of believers that any moment before Dec. 10, Duterte would still change his mind and accept the challenge.

Today in Quezon City, a group which calls itself the Friends of Rody Duterte (FORD) will convene its national executive council to prepare for a nation-wide membership campaign to create a network of warm bodies who will undertake the grassroots campaign for Duterte.

By the end of this month, FORD will gather about 50,000 members at the Ultra in Pasig to make a final push to convince Duterte to run.

The crying OFWs, the jeepney and taxi drivers, the ordinary workers, the mothers who fear for the safety of their children, the exploited contractual workers, the farmers, the seafarers, the religious leaders, the young students, the supporters who stayed in front of the Comelec office for two days and two nights under the sun and the rain, the small businessmen who hate corruption in government and of course, Martin Diño who had to bear the brickbats and the insults – they are the bit players in the real life drama of a people dreaming of change in their country. They have all prayed and done their part in making the Duterte Presidential Destiny happen.

The way is paved and the doors have been opened.

All that is needed now is for Duterte to play his part.

There is this story about a man who rued and complained that he has never won in the Lotto.

Asked when was the last time he placed a bet, he answered he has never bought a Lotto ticket.

You see, one does not win a Medal of Valor unless he decides to become a soldier and fights in the battle field.

You have to play a role in the movie to realise your destiny of becoming the Best Actor.

Destiny is the result of the actions we make and the decisions we take.

On or before Dec. 10, Duterte must file his COC.

That is the only way to realise if the Presidency is really his Destiny.

(Photo credit: Duterte in Malabon photo taken by Romirose Boloron; Diño photo in anti-crime rally downloaded from his Facebook page.)