If you thought Thais’ political choices were bad…

Firebrand presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte puts Attila the Hun to shame! He has no problem badmouthing Pope Francis and has been caught making remarks endorsing rape. How will he deal with foreign dignitaries visiting our shores?

Close behind in the polls is Grace Poe, a weakling greenhorn with only textbook ideas about how to run a government. While Duterte is the top choice among Muslims, Poe is pandering to the politically influential Christian Iglesia ni Cristo sect with disconcerting enthusiasm. Whatever hope we had pinned on her because of her “clean record” has given way to the realisation she will be putty in the hands of the Christian ministers.

 Or we could choose the notorious Jejomar Binay, with a string of corruption and plunder charges hanging around his neck. The allegations against him suggest how easy it is for a poor boy to become a multibillionaire through “public service”!

Trailing him in the polls is Mar Roxas, who pundits reckon has the best credentials “on paper”. In terms of performance, however, he is about as capable as a sloth. In his years as interior secretary responsible for law and order, rampant criminality went unabated and criminals became emboldened. Alas, that miserable failure has done much to boost Duterte’s appeal.

Bringing up the rear is Miriam Defensor Santiago, whose one-digit rating comes below even the percentage of “undecided” voters! 

Is there no one else? Heaven help us!

Gabrielle Michelle Aguillera