DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Days before the national elections, the head of Ateneo de Davao University’s political science and history department urged Davao City voters to choose based on values.

Political science professor Ramon Beleno III said the popularity of President Rodrigo Duterte is symptomatic of the “pragmatism” dominating the way Filipinos take a stand in politics.

“It’s bad for a nation, an electorate, if they base their electoral decisions on practicality or pragmatism. That has no basis, save for what is convenient or practical for you,” he told Rappler on Thursday, May 9, in Davao City.

“It’s more important to base your political decisions on values. What is important to you, what defines you as a person? And if what the government is doing is contrary to what you hold dear, you shouldn’t be supporting that,” he said.

People’s views on Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s remarks on honesty illustrate this “pragmatic” politics.

Many people who support the crackdown say that it works because, based on perception, the number of drug addicts “lessened” hence the campaign is laudable.

Meanwhile, those who brushed off Sara’s remark that honesty is not required of senatorial candidates bought into her “practical” explanation – that everyone lies anyway.

“Pero kung ikaw ay botante and you value honesty, you value dignity, dapat hindi ka nagpapadala doon,” said Beleno.

(But if you are a voter and you value honesty, you value dignity, you shouldn’t just believe that.)

ADDU’s top senatorial bets

A week before, ADDU released results of its off-campus survey on most preferred senatorial candidates in Davao City.

Two Davaoeños emerged at the top – former Duterte aide Bong Go in first place and former police chief Ronald dela Rosa in second place .

Beleno said this shows how the city’s residents appear to value “territoriality” in their selection of senatorial bets.

“People are more supportive of candidates coming from their locality. Why? Because they know them more and of course they’ve mingled with these people and most probably these people were able to help them because they are from here,” he said.

In the case of Go and Dela Rosa, Davao voters likely remember Go as the mayor’s assistant who was present during floods and fires or Dela Rosa as their city’s top cop.

Beleno does not know why Imee Marcos, daughter of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and graft convict Imelda Marcos were among the students’ preferred candidates. He only knows that many Ilocanos live in Davao City and parts of the city admire Ferdinand Marcos.

He concludes that Davaoeños, like the rest of the Philippine population, have not shaken off personality-based politics.

“Which is sad because what we want is, we are not personality-based politics. What we want is issues-based politics. What is your advocacy or what issue is important to you and, with that, which political party or candidate addresses the problem or issue,” he said.

Millions of Filipinos will troop to election precincts on Monday, May 13, to cast their votes for senator and local government positions. – Rappler.com