Tuesday 5th April 2016
I don’t usually write anything at
all about the politics of the countries we travel through on 2XS. It never seems like a very good idea… But
here on Samal Island, just off the coast of Mindanao, we are very much aware of
the upcoming elections, and off the local mayor, who is standing for presidency
of the Philippines. I am not making any
comment; just copying some interesting bits off Wikipedia…
 |
| From Wikipedia |
Below - from Wikipedia, re Rody
Duterte (born 1945…he looks MUCH more youthful than 71 in his ubiquitous
campaign posters…)
 |
| Our Samal Island ferries are festooned with Duterte posters |
On November 21, 2015, Duterte declared his candidacy for President of the Philippines in the upcoming 2016 election after a period of banter.
Davao is DuterteWorld. So is Samal Island, which is not actually
under his jurisdiction. He appears to be
enormously popular…When the hostages were taken from Ocean View on 21st
September, he offered himself in exchange and, strangely, the pirates didn’t
take him up on the offer. He is very
much feared! Davao was, apparently, a
fairly lawless city but now you can’t even smoke in the street.
In early September 2015, an infamous incident was reported of a
tourist being forced to swallow his own cigarette butt in a local bar in Davao
City after the tourist arrogantly refused to comply with the public
anti-smoking ordinance of the city.
Unlike many politicians, Duterte is forthright and plain
speaking. In 2009 he said: "If you are doing an illegal activity in my
city, if you are a criminal or part of a syndicate that preys on the innocent
people of the city, for as long as I am the mayor, you are a legitimate target
of assassination."
Duterte is known for being an avid fan of big bikes but detests luxury
cars. He once owned a second-hand Harley
Davidson and currently a Yamaha Virago. He was once a
habitual smoker but he eventually quit after a doctor's suggestion due to
health concerns. Duterte is also openly supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender (LGBT) rights and is an avid reader of Robert Ludlum and Sydney
Sheldon novels.
Re family: His ex-wife Elizabeth
Zimmerman (German-American) says "Yes, he [Rodrigo] is really a very
good leader. That is all he is. But when it comes to family, he is not capable
of taking care of it."
Currently he lives with his girlfriend, Honeylet. (Comment from me – cutest name
EVER!!! We need another baby girl in the
family, to be called Honeylet!)
Re religion - "If I obey the Ten
Commandments or listen to priests, I would not be able to do anything as a
mayor."
Last night we had a briefing re
the rally leaving Samal Island for Raja Ampat in a few weeks. Very interesting; there will be LOTS of
security, for only a handful of boats. A
small naval boat was in the marina, with smiling young men polishing their guns…We
still haven’t made our decision…
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