BOPK allies announce support for Duterte

CEBU, Philippines - Allies of Liberal Party's Cebu City mayoral candidate Tommy Osmeña announced yesterday their support for the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press conference yesterday, Tejero barangay captain Jessie Lou Cadungog, Tejero barangay councilman Ian Arago, and businessman Boyek Galang said they formed the Let's Do (Duterte-Osmeña) it! movement as they strongly believe in the brand of leadership of the two  politicians.

They, however, admitted that they did not formally ask permission from Osmeña to support Duterte instead of LP standard bearer Mar Roxas.

But they said Osmeña saw them wearing the "Let's DO (Duterte-Osmena) it" t-shirts and only "smiled" at them. 

Osmeña, when sought for comment about the movement, said he is aware that there are some BOPK officials and supporters who are for Duterte, which he thinks is normal.

 "But vast majority of BOPK are for Mar. I like Rudy, too, because he is the best crime fighter in the planet. But I give credit to Mar for creating 100,000 call center jobs in Cebu City alone, we need more of that," Osmeña said.

Osmeña added that he will not convince his allies to support Roxas instead of Duterte.

"I cannot convince them to dislike Duterte because they might dislike me," Osmeña added.

Further, Cadungog said that they have been campaigning for Duterte ever since, but it is only now that they have made it public. The group was formally organized on the first week of March.

Cadungog also told reporters that his colleagues in Barangays Hipodromo, Buhisan, and Capitol Site are among the lead campaigners of the movement. In Cebu's 80 barangays, they account half of them are supporting Duterte. 

In a separate statement, the movement believes that Duterte should be the next president as the Philippines needs to experience change.

The group says that both Duterte and Osmeña have the same record in fighting crime and are feared by criminals. They added that the two have both boosted economic development in their respective cities.

Representing some 60 local businessmen in Cebu City, Galang of Arbees bakeshop chain, said that they never had a hard time campaigning for Duterte as there are several people who willingly volunteer to help.

The group will be among those who will be joining Duterte's grand rally at the vacant lot of the South Road Properties in Cebu City tomorrow. — (FREEMAN)