A MALE OR A FEMALE PRESIDENT?

Duterte is the only candidate who has overtaken Poe in the surveys, only because I think the qualification of the latter is in question. Should Poe be legitimately recognized as a candidate, do we think Duterte would stand a chance?

At first I welcomed the entry of a Mindanao candidate in the presidential polls. Duterte possesses the active stance of a politician who will do good and that is to arrest those who break the law. Unfortunately, he does it himself and does not trust the justice nor the police systerm to solve the problem. And therein lies the question. Should someone in power take the law in his/her own hands and deal the coup de grace?

Should Duterte be a full-time candidate, then it is very revealing that the contribution of Mindanao to our politics is someone like him -- and I cannot help but think -- if he becomes president, will his women friends occupy one room each in Malacanang? Who will appear with him at social functions? Supposing one demands for his time, which will he give priority to, his tasks or his dalliance? Supposing also his "wives" give birth all at the same time, who will he visit right away? 

What are the benefits that each woman would get under his administration? Will they all have legal benefits? Will they demand one car each to bring them to their pleasure destinations?

When we have a foreign visitor, which woman will he invite to be with them to have dinner in Malacanang? What would be her qualifications? Will she be a good conversationalist or just someone who will decorate his presence?

How will he value the Magna Carta for Women? What programs will he institutionalize in order to stop women from "using" men as their passport to economic freedom? 

What about girl children? What kinds of values will he ask the DSWDd and the National Commission for Women to teach or share with women and girls -- will they include being a "pastime" for officials? 

So many questions to ask a male president again.