By Genalyn D. Kabiling and Keith Bacongco
He has pledged a strong and relentless campaign against crime and corruption, but the tough-talking President Duterte has ruled out turning into a dictator.
After taking his oath as the country’s 16th President, Duterte fended off speculations about his supposed dictatorial tendency, stressing that he is actually eager to end his six-year term.
“I do not want to be a dictator. And for those who are talking about beyond my term, no second term,” the President said during the Philippine National Police (PNP) change of command ceremony in Quezon City last Friday.
CALL ME ‘MAYOR’ – President Rodrigo Duterte, still in the Barong he wore to several events in Manila just hours before, does the rounds of Davao City Friday night on his black pick-up, as he had regularly done when he was mayor of the city for 22 years. Duterte passed through the city’s major thoroughfares, greeting Davaoeños through the built-in public address system in his vehicle and waving to passersby after his first full day as President of the country. (Keith Bacongco)
“You just don’t know how I would be happy we can accelerate the time and we have done the six years already. On the last day, I am going out whether you like it or not,” he added.
The former mayor of Davao City won a resounding victory in the last May elections after promising to suppress crime within the first six months in office. Some groups, however, have expressed concern about his alleged authoritarian style amid plans to launch a killing spree against drug lords and criminals.
But in his inaugural speech last Thursday, Duterte vowed to stay within the bounds of the law in his “relentless” and “sustained” campaign against crime and corruption. He said he knows the limits of the power and authority of the president, adding that his adherence to the due process and the rule of law is “uncompromising.”
The President, in his remarks before policemen last Friday, also said he is ready to be impeached amid his battle to suppress crime and cleanse the PNP of scalawags. He said policemen should focus on their duty to fight drug lords and other criminals, promising to give them higher salary, weapons, and other funds to boost their capability.
“If they will try to impeach me, I will hurry up the process and we go out of the service together,” Duterte told policemen.
BACK TO DAVAO CITY
After two days in Metro Manila, Duterte, still clad in his barong outfit, returned to Davao City Friday and immediately “toured” its major thoroughfares upon his arrival.
For the first time as President, Duterte, who wants the people to continue to call him “Mayor,” is spending his weekend with his family at his home in Doña Luisa Subdivision in Matina.
A private jet that flew Duterte from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City arrived at Francisco Bangoy International Airport at around 8:40 p.m with partner Honeylet Avanceña and daughter Kitty.
The President disembarked at the tarmac of the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) of the Philippine Air Force beside the old Davao Airport Terminal.
Like in his days as a mayor of the city, the new President rode on his black Isuzu D-Max pick-up.
The only difference this time is that he was escorted by dozens of members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), apart from local police officers.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Despite the security risk that goes with his position as the top official of the land, Duterte still followed the 30 and 40 kilometer-per hour speed limits in Davao City.
The convoy, which consists of PSG vehicles, police mobile cars, and an ambulance, also stopped whenever traffic signals turned red.
All the way from the airport to his home, Duterte, who was seated in front of his car, opened his window and waved to the people along the streets.
He had to endure traffic jams along J.P. Laurel, Bacaca Road, Quirino Avenue, Mayon Street, and the Bankerohan area.
Several motorcycles tried to overtake the police cars at the end of the convoy but police stopped them.
At around 9:35p.m., several bystanders, who were waiting for a jeep ride in front of the Tower Inn and Tapa King, were caught by surprise when they saw Duterte waving at them.
“Mayor! mayor ay President! President!” one of the ladies screamed as she hurriedly took a photo of Duterte using her smartphone.
“Okay na ta, okay na ta!” Duterte, using a megaphone, responded to the cheers of the bystanders. He also waved and flashed a thumb-up sign to the crowd.
One of his long time police escorts shouted to some bystanders not get closer to the Duterte’s car.
This time, about five of his PSG escorts disembarked from their vehicles and walked on the right side of the President’s vehicle.
PSG escorts walked beside the Duterte’s vehicle at least 50 meters due to snail-paced flow of traffic near the Davao Doctor’s Hospital.
Duterte’s convoy arrived at his home in Doña Luisa Subdivision at about 10 p.m.
Journalists, who tailed the convoy, were stopped at the final turn going to Duterte’s residence. But a few of his neighbors came out and watched as the convoy eventually came to a halt.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Meanwhile, while Duterte prefers to be called “Mayor,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), headed by Secretary Martin Andanar, is sticking on calling the new president either by his former tag or his initials for now.
“Mayor or PRRD,” Andanar told Manila Bulletin in a text message yesterday.
At the moment, the president’s communication team has been referring to him as “PRRD” in media advisories.
In headlines in Davao City, Duterte is known as “Digong,” “Rody,” or “CM” (for city mayor).
Duterte’s nickname is Digong, but this is usually pronounced wrong.
Progressive groups are referring to President Duterte online as PaDi (Pangulong Digong).
Some netizens, on the other hand, are trying to push for PDiggy, in jest and an ode to rapper P Diddy and following the use of PNOY for former President Benigno Aquino III.
According to Andanar, the “Mayor” and the team will be taking a short rest, “unless may biglaan na activity.”
Andanar added that Duterte was scheduled to fly back to Manila on Monday. (With a report from Yas D. Ocampo)