FVR advices Duterte on how to govern

Fidel V Ramos endorses Mayor Rody Duterte | Politics.com.ph

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had told former President Fidel V. Ramos that he is veering towards a decision to run for president in 2016, but he has yet to convince his family regarding his plan for higher office.


Duterte revealed this to Ramos during a meeting Monday at the latter’s office at the Urban Bank Building in Makati City.


Upon hearing the certainty of him running for the highest post of the land, Ramos gave Duterte pointers on how to conduct himself in the campaign trail and how to govern the country if he becomes the 16th president of the Republic.


“FVR had only kind words for Mayor Duterte and his pointers and advice are like those coming from a concerned father to a dutiful son who has set his eyes on a noble crusade,” said one of those who attended the Aug. 31 meeting.


On Saturday, Duterte attended a get-together of his friends and supporters organized by the “Champions of Rody Duterte” (CORD) held at the RJ Bistro, Dusit Hotel in Makati City.


In an impromptu speech, Duterte said that if he runs and become president, he will work hard so that the opportunities open to the rich will likewise be provided to the poor. “Why not give to the poor, the opportunities given to the rich just because they have money?,” he said.


Duterte pointed out that in Davao City, all ordinances and executive orders are complied with whatever their stature in life may be.


“I prohibited many things in Davao City, but until now I allow “tong-its” and “last-two” to continue. You know why? I see a very incongruous thing that the rich can go freely to casinos, while the cock-fighters have their matches every Sunday,” explained Duterte.


He declared that if the city will close the tong-its and last-two, might as well close the casinos as well, in order to be fair to every parties concerned.


But what caught the loudest applause of his audience was when he gave them a glimpse of how his administration will be.


“A Duterte presidency will definitely be a fair and just presidency. Only those who are corrupt and those involved in criminal activities should fear a Duterte presidency,” said the Davao City mayor.


Duterte also told his audience that the only way for the Philippines to attain development and progress is to create more infrastructure.


“If you dream of a better Philippines, you shape up. You have to work on the infrastructure. Because if there is none, if you do not offer the safest, cheapest and the fastest to do it, the Philippines will not progress,” the maverick mayor said.