Are 10 votes too difficult to give for the love of fPRRD?

With the May 12 senatorial elections just over two weeks away, there is no missing the tension in a country on a tailspin caused by massive corruption, soaring loans, official incompetence, rising criminality, and increasing repression, among other things. So much is at stake for a nation already left behind even by its war-ravaged neighbors in nearly every aspect.

As everybody knows, former President Rodrigo Duterte has become a major factor after all that he did for the country during his incumbency, and what the Marcos administration is doing to him now. Despite his incarceration, there is no doubt that fPRRD enjoys unparalleled popularity. His choices, therefore, will determine to a large extent how people will vote.

FPRRD picked only 10 candidates for the opposition ticket in the mid-term elections. Getting fPRRD’s nod are independents #38 Atty. Rodante Marcoleta, #42 Dr. Richard Mata, #53 Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, and #56 Atty. Vic Rodriguez joining PDP candidates #10 Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, #30 Atty. Jayvee Hinlo, #34 Atty. Raul Lambino and #58 Philip Salvador, plus reelectionist Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher Go. They are now collectively known as “DuterTen”.

Later, he added two more names, retired military officers Gringo Honasan and Ariel Querubin, through his eldest son, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte. It stirred the pot even more, given that Vice-President Inday Sara Duterte already sort of filled up the void when she endorsed Sen. Imee Marcos and Rep. Camille Villar.

In a message relayed to his supporters by partner Honeylet Avanceña, PRRD left no room for doubt about what he wanted from them regarding his handpicked and declared candidates.  

“Kalimutan niyo daw siya kung hindi niyo suportahan yung PDP (senatorial slate) nya,” she told supporters after emerging from his detention facilities in The Hague. In just 11 words, he conveyed the message to every supporter, and every Filipino scandalized by how the country is being run for that matter.

FPRRD’s birthday last March 28 was one for the books. Never has one event been so globally celebrated in recent years than the man now being held behind bars after being accused of “crimes against humanity” by those who have thrown conventional wisdom to the dogs to advance an agenda and out of their loathing for everything he stands for – in that order.

Let us not even debate about how 43 deaths – the only ones they can muster to formally accuse him of before the International Criminal Court after years of parroting the line that he was responsible for the killing of “30,000”. More SAF policemen perished because of the Aquino administration’s incompetence in Mamasapano in one day, but that’s how ridiculous it gets.

The outpouring of love did not end there. It continues as this is being written, with Filipinos from many parts of the globe flocking to the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, well aware that they won’t be able to even get a glimpse of him there. They spend their own money and give generously of their time, knowing they won’t be getting anything in return.

What will they not do for him?

FPRRD is a very difficult man to decipher, both to his sworn enemies and his rabid followers. Over the years, the latter have learned – not a few grudgingly – to trust him even when they don’t understand what’s going on. As most Davaoeños will tell you, he says and does so many things that you disagree with, but at the end of the day, you will realize that more often than not, he was always after the greater good.

It is normal to hear Duterte supporters say there are a few names in his list that they will never vote for. They are well within their rights to do so. Freedom of choice is a sacred right. Putting in one or even three over those he picked probably won’t hurt, and it is a tempting thought.

From where he is now, fPRRD must have thought long and hard before choosing his 10 anointed ones. He himself explained that all 10 are needed to foil VP Inday’s impeachment.

And yet, they mean so much more to rescue the country from the abyss that PBBM is taking it to. There is more at stake for every Filipino than anti-Duterte forces want us to believe.
Is it a yes or no for DuterTen? We have until May 12 to answer that.