Roxas, Duterte told: Cool it, boys

AS ASPIRANTS for the highest post in the land, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte should be talking and acting more like statesmen instead of “high school students,” Sen. Serge Osmeña said.

And for Sen. Nancy Binay, it should be all about “love, love, love” for all the candidates, not just Roxas and Duterte, in the runup to the May 2016 elections.

The two presidential candidates have a word war going on the authenticity of Roxas’ educational credentials that is threatening to get physical and escalate into a slapping contest.

“We expect something more from these two leaders who want to be president. Maybe they can tone down their language and be more statesman-like in their debate,” Osmeña said.

Binay, for her part, said she hoped Roxas and Duterte would be able to resolve their differences without resorting to physical attacks.

“I call on all the 2016 candidates: Let’s love, love, love, because this is the time for unity. This is not the time to bash each other.”

“It’s time to give love, to share love. I hope they patch things up without getting into a slap fight,” she added.

Osmeña, who has managed and advised other politicians’ campaigns, described the two candidates as acting like high school students.

“This is something that is already out of line for both of them. And being older than either of them, I’m asking that they set the example for high-level presidential debate,” he said.

Osmeña, who is leaning toward Duterte, warned the two-fisted mayor may lose supporters if he’s not careful.

Duterte’s tough talking ways may work in his region, but in the national setting anything he says will be picked up by the media and broadcast to an international audience, Osmeña said.