A SENATORIAL Preference survey result was posted on Facebook yesterday. The entity that was identified to have conducted the survey was Archlight. It claims to have engaged a massive number of respondents.
It is the first time we have heard or read about this survey firm and it looks like it is well-oiled because of the number of people it has reached as respondents. And we supposed that the survey was conducted nationwide.
According to the result of the senatorial derby, if the elections were held at the time when it was conducted, the candidates under the banner of former President Rodrigo Duterte would have steamrollered the administration bets. Imagine only two candidates for the Senate went to “outsiders,” – former Sen. Panfilo Lacson and former Sen. Bam Aquino. Lacson is the only one who survived among the Marcos, Jr.-backed ticket for the Senate.
Now let us find out in succeeding surveys conducted by better-known study firms, the result will jibe with that of Archlight even if the number of respondents is minuscule compared to what is claimed by the latter.
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Former President Rodrigo Duterte is issuing a refrain of his warning to criminals, most especially the illegal drug traders and their underlings.
The warning is for the criminals to get out of Davao City or be killed after he gets back to the mayorship. His similar earlier threat was made when he first assumed the office of city mayor after the elections of 1988. And yes, FPRRD made good his warning despite criticisms from some sectors of the city’s population.
Well, the result was more than perceivable. The result was known far and wide with the negative perception overshadowed by the positive impact of his warning on the city’s population.
The question now is whether his new warning will get the same result as his first, considering that the malefactors seem to have their “beef” on the former city mayor – the interventionist shadow of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
With thi,s we may have unintentionally provided an answer to our question raised in several earlier columns asking whether or not the drug merchants and other criminals have found protectors of their illegal activities.
Indeed they have found one in the aggressive watch of human rights advocates and the reported investigation and alleged pending service of an arrest warrant on the former city mayor and Philippine President.
Of course, it is our observation that the former chief executive of the city and country appears far from intimidated by the ICC’s intervention.
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We have no doubt that when comebacking mayoralty candidate for Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte renewed his grim warning against criminals and drug dealers now seemingly having their new heydays in this southern Mindanao metropolis, he may have entertained some ideas on their sudden boldness.
One is that the rise in criminalities and illegal drug prevalence could be the handiwork of some politicians out to discredit the city’s well-earned accolades. Another is perhaps his son, Mayor Baste Duterte, who may wanting in boldness to duplicate his ways of dealing with criminals that the latter show no respect to his mayor-son.
Now it is barely two months and Davaoenos will know if the former mayor will be back at City Hall where he calls the shot in dealing with the disturbers of the city’s peace and order situation. If he’ll be back in the saddle, then we will know what to expect after his assumption – if he will.
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Just what is candidate Karlo Nograles’ commitment to combat the rising criminality, as well as the comeback of prohibited drugs in Davao City?
This is the very first thing Davaoenos want to know when they set out for the official campaigning for local government candidates. For certain he will not parrot his adversary. Knowing Karlo he’ll surely adopt the so-called “soft approach” in dealing with the upsurge in crimes, but of course not with the criminals and drug merchants.
Personally, we would be closely watching how Karlo will coin his platform regarding the criminality problem. We are hoping that his proposed policy is something that draws more heavily on the respect of those wanting to commit crimes instead of earning their fear. After all, ca riminal’s fear will only be there for as long as the person or authority they dread is still around.
Respect for the law and those tasked to implement them is lasting.
