Digong: In the eyes of those who know

From "The Punisher" to Dirty Harry to Mass Murderer to New Age Hitler, there's seems to be no end to names people make of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

Depending on where people sit on the political fence, or where they place their sympathies, there is always a name out there for the country's 16th leader--the very first from Mindanao.

Like him or not, President Duterte has been doing a job only 15 others before him have done. At 73 (he celebrates his birthday on Wednesday, March 28), he has far exceeded what men of his age would have been doing. But he simply tirelessly wants to serve the people especially those who are disadvantaged and helpless. He doesn't mind if, in the process, it will have to be an ally or a supporter, or someone very close to him who would get the axe.

He has made it clear when he decided to make a go for the Presidency--he will eradicate drugs, crime, and corruption. He has never waned from those three specific agenda.

President Duterte's stint, by far, has been described as a heated one--whether it be internal affairs or international. He has stirred global attention with his war on drugs, his strong comments on former US President Barrack Obama, his foreign policy veering towards Russia and China and away from traditional Philippines ally United States, his declaration to stop the peace talks and brand the New People's Army as terrorists.

Most recently, he took back the Philippines' adherence to the Rome Statute which created the International Criminal Court (ICC) for initiating an investigation of the drug war in the country. President Duterte maintains the ICC cannot gain jurisdiction over him. However, in a surprise move that baffled even the sharpest legal minds, he declared the pullout from the treaty. Whether or not the investigation will continue, President Duterte is standing his ground in the same fashion as he has done in other controversial issues.

Here is a man who, in his own terms, is more concerned of doing what he deems as right rather than doing what would make him look good in the eyes of everyone.

Judging on all the name-callings, you would surely ask? "Is he a bad leader?"

His over two years at the helm should tell the story. However, the question is not so much on what people know and understand but what people who know him understand what he's doing.

On the occasion of President Duterte's 73rd birthday, Edge Davao asked people who know him how they perceive him as a leader and as a person.

We start off with the man closest to him, Secretary Christopher Lawrence "Bong Go, Special Assistant to the President.

SAP BONG GO, Special Assistant to the President: "The President is a hardworker even at his age. He wakes up very early in the morning. Takes his breakfast, reads the newspapers, and then goes to work whatever is the schedule for the day. He works until midnight then goes to bed. On his birthday, there will be nothing special. Mayor Rody will be celebrating his birthday at home, with his family. He has never been known to throw lavish birthday parties even when he was mayor of Davao City. Prayers from his well-wishers during his birthday would surely make him very happy. Ang wish ko po para kay Boss ay long and healthy life para patuloy siyang makapagsilbi sa bayan. At sana mabigyan pa siya ng mas mahabang panahon upang makasama ang kanyang pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay. To my adviser, my mentor and my boss, isang maligayang kaarawan po sa inyo!"

GLENN ESCANDOR, Businessman and Presidential Adviser for Sports: "President Duterte is a self-made man. As someone who knows him personally, he is like a father. I have never seen a leader who is so humble, brave and courageous as him. He has made us proud being Filipinos even if we are a just a small country and not as rich as others. He has gained the respect of leaders in the international community and among the world's leaders because he has proven that we should not just be bullied around or intimated. He knows what he's doing. It may be easy for some people to criticise him and his actions but in reality, they have never been in his shoes and it's never easy to be in his shoes. He deserves our respect and support."

ATTY. ROLAND PONDOC, Commissioner, Commission on Audit: "I would still say that he is running the country with most brilliant steps and plans, with strong determination to serve, and with best balanced personality as hardworking president, yet he is doing his job with full of humility and sincerity as public servant."

ATTY. RAMON EDISON BATACAN, Dean, Rizal Memorial Colleges College of Law and Senior Partner of BMV Law Firm: "PRRD is the best thing that ever happened to Philippine politics. He destroyed the long-entrenched political oligarchy which ailed the country for a very long time. He is a political surgeon who managed to cut off a malignant tumor in our political system. His timely rise to power saved the country from the throes of corruption, crime, illegal drugs. PRRD is the best light of hope for all Filipinos. His iron-fisted style of governance against crime, illegal drugs and corruption is the best solution for a drastic change. His acceptance rating of 94% is unprecedented and shows a strong support for his governance. In the long run Filipinos will benefit from it.

I see a great Philippines in the near future."

EDITH CADUAYA, Journalist: Digong as the President has shown the world that Philippines is a nation for Filipino--he instills the sense of patriotism by protecting and defending his countrymen: --take the case of West Philippines Sea (He would prefer to strike a deal than send his army and wage a war against a military giant --China), Digong showed that world he fathered the Filipino nation. He has shown his deep love of country and went beyond protocol just to reach out for his people who felt aggrieved back home and in the foreign land. He defies institutional protocol just to reach out for his people (Kuwait for instance). As a person, he is warm, affectionate and he memorized every minute detail of the person whom he considers a friend. Isang napakabait na kaibigan but if you push him to his limits, isa syang malupit na kalaban.. he will kill you with his ideas and for every opponent he had-- he would have-- he would make sure he always has an ace over you.

ATTY. RACHEL ZOZOBRADO-NAGAYO, Former city councilor and now Labor Attache to Australia: "I believe that PRRD is one of the best presidents this country has ever had. His words are always translated into action. While some may not like the way he talks or does things, majority would agree that he has delivered on his promises. You can really see and feel that change has come. And at the end of the day, results and action are most important."

Secretary Bong Go, Glenn Escandor, Commissioner Roland Pondoc, Atty. Ed Batacan. Edith Caduaya and Atty. Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo are but a some of the many people who know President Duterte by their personal encounters. Theirs are impressions culled only from personal knowledge and experience.