It is ridiculously funny how the anti-Duterte forces make such a big issue of a flood that occurred in a low-lying area outside of the city poblacion following hours of heavy rain. They feasted on it
like it is a far better headline story than the delisting of former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan from scroll of characters that were charged of plunder and the huge rally staged by the Iglesia Ni Cristo against the selective justice of the current administration.
The rally which brought together thousands of INC members in EDSA was a protest over Ombudsman declaration that it will order the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on charges of plunder for alleged failure to declare the ₱75-million campaign contribution.
While the threat of Marcoleta was aired, the Ombudsman also announced the removal of ex-DPWH Secretary Bonoan from the list of those charged with plunder over the multi-billion kickbacks from the scandalous flood control ghost projects that happened during his watch as secretary. This in exchange for his being a state witness.
Marcoleta on the other hand had been cleared on the charges of plunder by the Commission on the Election which had already ruled that the contribution which he received happened before the campaign period.
Back to the anti-Duterte critics the pool of rain water in a narrow road is a scoop that deserves a front page headline than the INC rally. The flood water actually faded quickly but paid trolls and bloggers still found fetish in the flood they saw somewhere in Davao City.
Strangely they deride the accolades citing Davao City as clean as the Singapore. They must have thought that the city state does not experience flooding when in truth flash floods is a commonplace in the city especially during prolonged and heavy downpours. In fact floods happen everywhere even in dessert lands.
What distinguishes Davao City and Singapore from Metro Manila for example is that floods recedes quickly compared to the cities in the capital region. The contributory factors are high tides, heavy rains, drainage problems especially in low-lying areas.
What is really sickening is why there are quarters who are unhappy with the progress and development of Davao City, like they find it strange why the city is so progressive despite the denigration leveled against the Dutertes including the impeachment issues facing Vice President Sara Duterte.
Attacks do not only come from the House of Representatives where diverse political ideologies come together in a bawdy alliance to mount a vilification campaign against VP Sara who, by herself, weathered the hostile political environment around her.
It is not surprising for a hurting bystander who looks like Antonio Trillanes to describe Davao City as a dangerous place, but for Malacanang, through its spokesperson USEC Claire Castro, to declare the City as dangerous and not an ideal place to invest and live-in is totally unacceptable and moronic.
Be that as it may, Davao City has drawn unprecedented investments never experienced in the past, an indication that capitalists do not listen to Malacanang anymore. Business flourish as a consequence its tax collection and remittance to the national treasury is one of the biggest if not the biggest as borne by the fact that it received the biggest national tax allotment share amounting to more than ₱10-billion!
City Mayor Baste Duterte in the meantime has been busy receiving diplomatic envoys from Asian and European countries who are looking into investments and trade opportunities. Baste , unlike most politicians, is not loquacious. He moves around and acts without fanfare. He saw to it that relief goods for earthquake victims are immediately prepared and delivered by truckloads to various places In SOCSARGEN area. Then he scooted to China to follow up on the additional 20 units of electric long bed passenger buses. Before anyone can notice his absence Baste is back and seen exchanging pleasantries with European diplomats.
That’s what the political adversaries of the Duterte cannot duplicate. ..the Duterte brand of political leadership.
