Koko backs Duterte’s ‘dictatorial’ style of governance

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III sees no problem with President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that he has a “dictatorial” style of governance.

For Pimentel, a close ally of Duterte and president of the ruling PDP-Laban, it is the right of the chief executive to be “dictatorial.”

“Style lang naman yon. He can and should do that within his branch, the Executive branch. Dapat super strict siya para nga may mangyari,” Pimentel said in a text message to reporters Friday.

Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III echoed the sentiment of Pimentel.

“Dapat nga siguro dictatorial dahil ang tititgas ng ulo natin. Mga driver lang, puro salbahe,” Sotto said.

In a speech before former communist rebels in Malacañang on Wednesday night, Duterte said that if it were not for his “dictatorial” style of governance, the country would not make progress.

“If you say dictator, well, I am really a dictator. Because if I don’t [act like a] dictator, nothing will happen to our nation. That’s true,” Duterte said in Cebuano.

For his part, Senator Panfilo Lacson said that while Duterte is “exaggerating,” his words will not help the issue he is facing before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC said it is set to do its initial review of allegations that Duterte committed a crime against humanity in connection with his controversial war on drugs.

“Those are words that won't help his present issue with the ICC. He is, of course, exaggerating since we all know there is no dictatorship prevailing in the country. He might be referring to his style of leadership towards his subalterns in the executive,” Lacson said. 

“In a way, if I were a leader of men as I was when I was still with the police service, it pays to adopt that leadership style, to the point of being a dictator when dealing with shenanigans in the government bureaucracy. But, it pays more when a leader adopts only one standard, not double or triple in exercising dictatorial leadership, lest it will never be effective,” he added.

Opposition Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV reminded Duterte that the country does not need another dictator.

“Hindi diktador ang kailangan, sa halip ay pinunong may kakayahan at tunay na malasakit sa buong bayan, lalo na para sa mahihirap nating kababayan,” Aquino said. — RSJ, GMA News