Davao City: Duterte country and missing names

MANILA, Philippines – PCOS malfunctions and missing names from the voters’ list are among the top problems reported on Monday, May 13, during the conduct of elections in Davao City.

Lourdesita S. Chan, chairperson of Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) Research Council, said that the voting process in Davao has been relatively peaceful, with no reports of election-related violence so far.

However Kontra Daya reported that one voter was able to vote for another voter in Precinct 0327-A in Bgy 19-B in Davao City. Ethel Ardon was surprised to learn that someone else had already voted using her name when she arrived noontime at her designated voting precinct.

An Instagram user, @iamsuperace, noted that the indelible ink was “erasable.”

Sure winners

Chan also said that Davao, which has an estimated 800,000 registered voters, remains “Duterte country.” Most residents are expected to vote for mayor, Rodrigo Duterte, who is running unopposed. His son Paolo, who led the city’s largest barangay, is expected to win as vice mayor, too. He is running unopposed as well.

Rodrigo, who was city mayor for a decade starting 1988, and again from 2001 to 2010, served as vice mayor under his daughter, current Davao City mayor Sara Duterte.

According to Chan, the persistence of the Duterte dynasty in Davao is largely attributed to their style of governance. The leadership traits most desired by Davaoeños – sincerity, personability, and a record of successful projects – are also those demonstrated by members of the Duterte clan, Chan said.

The string of recent policies they enacted, including a crackdown on drug-related cases, the implementation of a 911 emergency dispatch service, an effective waste management system, and public health initiatives have also contributed to their continued popularity.

Security and safety

The largest metropolitan area in Mindanao, Davao City retains a strategic position in the ongoing discussions between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Chan pointed out, it’s largely because of Davao’s reputation for peace and order that it remains a primary meeting place for negotiations between the government and Muslim leaders to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with the Bangsamoro.

Although Davaoeños’ primary concern is security, Chan also pointed out that there’s a strong perception among residents that, although both the national and regional economy are growing, income inequality has widened.

Growth has not filtered down to Mindanao, she said. – Rappler.com