The presidential elections are heating up. You know why we say this? Because two of the presidential candidates have challenged each other to either a slapping challenge or a gun duel. Unfortunately, this is not a scene from a teleserye. This is real life.
The incident started when Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte claimed that Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Mar Roxas is not a graduate of the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. In retaliation, Roxas challenged Duterte that if he could prove Roxas was not a graduate, he could slap Roxas. If Duterte couldn’t prove it, he would get slapped. It then leveled up to a boxing challenge because according to Roxas, slapping is for girls. Later on, Duterte challenged him to a gun duel instead.
Again, this is real life.
One netizen isn’t too happy about it. Migo Roldan, editor-in-chief of Think Philippines, wrote an open letter on his blog challenging the two candidates to a “debate on ideas and platforms instead of issuing a slapping challenge and gun duel.” According to him:
First of all, I would like to congratulate the both of you for being successful in getting the attention of the whole Filipino nation who are now braving Typhoon Nona while majority are trapped in their homes and some are currently trapped inside their cars along EDSA. It is not a secret anymore that our country is currently experiencing a lot of predicaments from violent separatist movement down south and chronic petty crimes along the alleys of Recto, Cubao,Tondo.
I would like to humbly appeal that both you start acting like a true statesman and a Presidential candidate that is worth emulating in our country by engaging into a debate and healthy exchanges of ideas,solutions and platforms instead of issuing a gun duel challenge, slapping challenge et al.
Migo noted the difference between Roxas and Duterte, and highlighted the importance of decency and propriety.
While most of us find it amusing that an elite and american educated Filipino from Cubao (Mar Roxas) and a highly celebrated Mayor from Mindanao that is allegedly involved in a lot of extrajudicial killings (Mayor Duterte) are very passionate about being right, we humbly think that we as your constituents are missing a lot in here. We cannot see the level of decency and propriety that a President of this country must have.
A level of decency to debate on ideas and platforms instead of issuing a slapping challenge and gun duel.
An above average sense of propriety to showcase that you are not just eager to be our next political leader but also prepared and happy to be our role model especially to us, the 21,000,000+ Filipino youth.
He then shared that he can arrange and assist the debate through various organizations. It turns out Migo is serious about his challenge.
PS.I am confident to arrange and assist in linking various organizations and guarantee the neutrality of the debate. Kindly show us that both of you are more than two tough guys who can throw punches and kill each other. We strongly need a role model that is not only a strong political leader but someone who can make this country great again by uniting our divided society towards one common vision. What is the sense of getting the Presidency of this country by winning the votes and not our hearts.Let us do this and hear our call for a better informed Filipino electorate.
He ended the letter saying that he can be reached using the numbers listed on his website.
Do you think the elections are now out of control? Share your thoughts below!
