Duterte, Cayetano start campaign with Manila’s poor

MANILA, Philippines – The tandem of presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday started on their campaign trail with a proclamation rally last night at the heart of Tondo, Manila.

Duterte arrived in Tondo at around 7 p.m. for his proclamation rally, along with his partner Cielito Avanceña and daugther Veronica.

Speaking before a crowd of some 3,000 residents of what is considered as Manila’s poorest district, Duterte bared his plans for the country’s development if elected as the country’s next president.

“People of Tondo dream of something new. I promised you something. But if you really know me, I will deliver. I will do it even if I lose my life, honor and even the presidency. I will deliver on my promises,” he told the cheering crowd gathered at the intersection of Morga and Zamora streets where a large stage was built for the rally.

In his proclamation speech, Duterte assured that once elected as president, he would immediately double the salaries of policemen and soldiers. But he was also quick to warn them not to engage in illegal activities.

Duterte also promised that he would also implement economic measures similar to what was done by the late President Ferdinand Marcos such as the Masagana 99 and Biyayang Dagat programs.

Duterte said that Marcos was the best president the Philippines has ever had if he did not turn into a dictator.

Duterte also said he takes pride in being born poor although he admits that he is not that poor now.

For his part, Amado Bagatsing who is running for mayor of Manila and a supporter of Duterte said it is about time that the country has a president from Mindanao.

At dawn yesterday, Duterte and Cayetano also had breakfast of pancit (noodles), salted egg and pandesal with poor residents of Binondo, Manila.

Duterte greeted the residents and promised them the conditional cash transfer program would be sustained to help them buy food. The Mayor added that he would increase the cash grants to the beneficiaries if elected president on May 9.

No such thing as tuwid na daan

Duterte also said that there is no such thing as “Tuwid na Daan,” citing the corruption at the Bureau of Customs and the bullet-planting scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Duterte, who has a strong stance against illegal drugs, crime and corruption, reiterated that he would eradicate the scourges in six months. He also warned loan sharks to stop abusing the less fortunate.

He said that loan sharks take advantage of poor people who are forced to borrow money through a “5-6” scheme because of poverty.

Stop it. Ako na nagsasabi sa inyo (I’m telling you), stop it,” Duterte said.

Cayetano added that the people tend to choose loan sharks because of the government’s failure to sustain capital for small businessmen.

“Many residents here want to start their own business, but because of lack of capital, they borrow from these loan sharks and are forced to do so despite extremely high interest rates,” Cayetano said.

Thousands also flocked yesterday to Freedom Park along Roxas Avenue in Davao City to campaign for Duterte.

A similar activity was also reportedly held at the SMX convention center in Bacolod City, while motorcades were held in other key areas such as General Santos City, pushing for the candidacy of Duterte.

Singers and bands performed in each of the venues for the campaign kick off of Duterte and Cayetano.

Duterte failed to attend his oath-taking as chairman of the PDP-Laban in Intramuros, Manila, his executive assistant said.

Bong Go said that Duterte skipped the oath-taking as he was not feeling well.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was asked again yesterday by Rizalito David to disqualify Duterte from the presidential polls.

In an 11-page Motion for Reconsideration, David said the Comelec First Division erred in its findings that the substitution of Duterte for Martin Diño was valid.

“Contrary to the commission’s findings, Diño’s filing as well as withdrawal of his certificate of candidacy (COC) were attended by glaring irregularities and intended to make a mockery of the elections, thus, he could not have been validly substituted by respondent Duterte,” he noted.

He claimed that Diño’s COC was for mayor of Pasay City and not for president. Such COC was withdrawn after Diño was declared a nuisance candidaate by Comelec.

Duterte substituted for Diño after he withdrew his candidacy for mayor of Davao City.

But David added that political party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod has not withdrawn its nomination of Duterte as Davao City mayor.  – With Edith Regalado, Sheila Crisostomo, Ghio Ong