Bringing the country together WILL DUTERTE BE THE PHILIPPINES’ LEBRON JAMES OF CLEVELAND?

By Manny Pinol

In a country where politicians virtually go for each others’ jugular just to promote their interests and win in elections, it is always dreamed and hoped that a leader who could bring the nation together would step forward and serve.

Personally, I really hope that someday, maybe starting 2016, this country would no longer be divided by political colors – yellow, red, green, blue or tangerine and political groups would no longer be labelled as pro-Marcos or anti-Marcos and pro-Aquino or anti-Aquino.

Unless a new leader who does not belong to any of these political groups and who waves the national colors instead of the traditional colors, the Philippines will always remain divided.

It will be an endless political tug-of-war where when the leader belongs to the Red color, the Yellows would do everything to bring him down or if the Yellows are in power the Reds will shake down the government in power.

Which brings us to the reason why I am personally endorsing a Rody Duterte presidency and I am, along with millions of Filipinos, trying to convince him to accept the call to run for President.

Duterte, a rural politician, is independent-minded and is considered an outsider. He is not one who would say “kung anong sabi ng partido, doon kami sususporta.”

Besides, I believe that he is the only political leader right now who is highly respected and even idolized by the Muslim-Filipinos of the Southern Philippines, including those who belong to rebel groups.

Added to that, he has kept open his communication lines with the leadership of the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) and the New People’s Army to the point of being accused as a communist sympathizer.

“They are all my people,’ he once told me in explaining his relationships with both the NPAs and the Muslim rebel groups.

The only groups, perhaps that Duterte would never want to be associated with are criminal syndicates and drug dealers.

Early today, a US-based friend sent me the link to the new Nike “Together” commercial of LeBron James, the American basketball star who has just returned to his home team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Watching the commercial and understanding its meaning, I immediately realized that what this country needs right now is a LeBron James, a leader who could inspire and unite the Filipino people.

That man, I believe is Rody Duterte.

If and when he accepts the challenge and the listens to the call of the people, the different political colors will slowly blend with the national colors represented in the Philippine flag.