What's your prediction for the Presidential Election on the 9th?

Sorry to pick nits, Andrew, but that newspaper article doesn't actually say that he accepted the post, merely that GMA announced the creation of a task force to be headed by Duterte. In my earlier answer, I relied on Duterte's Wiki entry which says that he rejected her, her predecessors' and successor's attempts to make him a "crime tsar".

I note that article is dated 2002. What is interesting is that Duterte's undoubted success in tackling criminality and making Davao a safe city - bearing in mind the methods he is alleged to have employed - have been recognised positively by four presidents and praised by the likes of Manila's former Mayor, Alfredo Lim, who is quoted as saying "If we had 20 more mayors like Duterte, the peace and order would improve". The article goes on to say that other mayors in the south, including in Digos, are emulating Duterte's law and order stance and taking a hard line on criminality.

Maybe we need to view him and his achievements through middle-aged Filipino eyes, not middle-aged western ones

Mark, I am sitting across the table from a 30 year old Filipina, chatting to her 67 year old mother, who is on her way to Canlaon, Negros, to attend the funeral of their uncle/brother, on Skype, and I can assure you that both of them have no time for Duterte, and both will be voting Ro-Ro. Catalina never liked him; Corina did, until recently, but changed her mind after her mother told her about the corruption issues.

One thing I've learned over the last nine or so years of living in the Philippines is to treat media news reporting with a healthy degree of scepticism - and I am a former journalist. There are some very good and conscientious journalists over there but equally there are those who have a vested interest in manipulating the truth, often at their owner's say-so. And because they wish to remain alive.

Rather than arrest, try and punish public figures who reportedly break the law, Filipinos tend to either ignore them and their alleged crimes completely or elect them into high office.

I think it is highly likely that Duterte and Marcos will win, as I said earlier.

I am absolutely sure that this will be a disaster for the Philippines, which will revert to its time honoured status as a global laughing stock, and will slip faster into the grip of China.

Alan Peter Cayetano has disappeared from sight after Trillanes' threat to expose him as well as Duterte - to the point where the witttier Liberals, like Carlos Celdran, have been putting up "Missing Person" posters. In effect he has been replaced as Duterte's running mate by Marcos.

There is a possibility that Robredo may edge Marcos out, given the Filipino propensity to hedge their bets by voting both slates.

So you no longer think that Roxas can defeat Duterte? That's not what Mae thinks at all. She tells me that the PCOS machines will provide a convincing Roxas victory - she and I choose our words carefully!

I'm not sure where Marcos' support is coming from - apparently not from core Duterte supporters who favour Cayetano who would be a much safer pair of hands.

"No longer.." Mark, please read what I wrote, not what you think I wrote.

I have been expecting Duterte to win. I hope he does not, because I don't think he will be able to govern well. His populism worries me.

But the gap is starting to close, if today's Pulse Asia survey is right, and to my great satisfaction Robredo has caught up with Marcos.

If enough voters conclude that the important thing is to stop Duterte, then Roxas is in with a good chance, providing he retains the number two spot up to Election Day.

I don't think Cayetano looks likely to win, but it seems that Marcos might.

They never back a loser

INC backs Duterte, Marcos
The bloc-voting, homegrown Christian sect Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Wednesday night endorsed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for President and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Vice President in Monday’s national elections.

INC announced its endorsement through a circular read during worship service by executive minister Eduardo Manalo, who called on the sect’s members to vote as one on Monday.

“This is based on the teachings in the Bible that were taught to us even before we were accepted as members of the Church of Christ. We have faith that it is God’s teaching that there shouldn’t be division among us, but that we should be one in thinking and one in judgment,” Manalo said in Filipino.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/783270/inc-backs-duterte-marcos

You make a valid point

The Liberal party and Roxas have a lot more support than it may seem.

As you know..I`m not interested in Filipino politics or Politicians in general but today I saw something that I have never seen before!! Ever!!
One or two Filipino friends showed me some very new crisp notes that they recently received..500`s 100`s 50`s etc with a label stapled to each of them...On that label (about half the size of note) was a printed picture and a signed copy of a signature of the candidate that issued the money and stapled on label to the money!!!
Just....Wow!!

That is not the usual way of bribing voters at elections and as such it is almost certainly black propaganda. There is no point in putting a picture of the candidate on the paper as what the voter needs to know is the "slate". There is no point in stapling the slate to the cash as it makes it obvious what the money is for. Filipinos are not stupid.

As you certainly know, the usual method is for each voter to be handed a "slate" - a copy of the actual ballot, with the names of the candidates for whom the recipient is to vote clearly marked. The ballot includes all the names, President, Vice President, 12 Senators, the Congressman, the Mayor, the Vice Mayor and the Barangay Captain. The sheer number of votes to be cast in one go makes this the only practical way to do it.

An example of a "slate" (which may itself be black propaganda) can be found on Facebook as the slate allegedly distributed or to be distributed by the InC has been posted.

As I said...First time Ive ever seen it...But clear as day...Notes and labels handed to me for inspection by different members of one family in all Peso denominations..
Again...WOW!!

I have never seen such a thing EXCEPT on Facebook two days ago. It's "too good to be true" - only an idiot goes stapling the candidate's name and mug shot to the notes and every slate I have ever seen for a Presidential election, and I only go back to FVR, has had the whole slate on it not just one or two names. The local Congresscritter wants to get elected too and it is his "machine" on the ground that the Presidential candidate is relying on, so for sure his name will be there.

Therefore I think that something else is going on here - an attempt to discredit whoever has their name and mugshot stapled to the notes.

Well...Just seen some more issued by different candidates.. Just asked a bunch of locals and they say its a recent fashion...So if ALL candidates staple flyers to the money then none of them can complain against the other if they should lose!!
Tomorrow will see some more examples but not tonight as our Mayor has queues around the block tonight..

You really should stop YAPping about your Mayor!
Do you think they vote for his boyish good looks or is it all about the pera?

Actually...Our Mayor is a Woman..
Accusing her of having "Boyish good looks" might get you a serious slap in these parts..

As far as Baba Yap goes,he has done a wonderful job so far and I doubt he will have to pay very much out in order to be reelected..
Baba Yap= Good Mayor for Tag.B!!

Well, in a few days' time we shall all have been told what the outcome is, or perhaps what the outcomes are, since whatever the result it will be contested.

I have a sinking feeling that Duterte and Marcos will win. This is depressing and I fear for the Philippines.

Why, why would the people want Duterte to be president? His supporters clamor and say that they want change and Duterte can give it to them. IMO, it is folly to expect one person can make all the changes needed for our (and I say our) country to stay afloat. Add the jokes about matters that should be taken seriously, his predilection to favour China, his non-existent diplomatic graces and wit, the hidden bank accounts and properties, and his crass and dirty mouth... you have a winner. And Marcos. MARCOS. If he wins, it will be like spitting in the face of every Martial Law survivor and those who have lost loved ones during that dark period in our history. They say Bongbong was too young to know anything back then and the people keep invoking "the sins of the father" argument. Bongbong knew, did nothing, and still defend and sing his parents' praises to this very day.

I fear for our country. History has always remembered the heroes or the villains, but never the fallen people.

Many of your fellow countrymen want a change from Patronage Politics where the rich families exert control over the country's destiny. Duterte does not come from any political dynasty and has a proven track record on law and order. What he offers strikes a resonant chord with the masses who are prepared to overlook certain aspects that surround him, many of which may be manufactured by his opponents.

I agree. I can not for the life of me understand what is his appeal. He will simply carry on the family business of filling off-shore bank accounts.

Before I met Melody, I knew very little about the Philippines except vague recollections of Imelda Marcos' shoe stash. And so, in my crass way, when I got there, I was all too ready to slag off the Marcos clan. (Except I was in Ilocos Norte, where they are all very proud of him, and indeed, in Sarrat, on the way to Piddig, they commemorate his birthplace with one of those arches over the road.) Luckily, I picked up on the sideways glance sharpish, and luckier still, had only got a couple of toes in my mouth as opposed to my usual entire foot.