Duterte hit for blaming ruling clan for campaign interruption in Camiguin

MANILA, Philippines – The son of the ruling clan patriarch slammed presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s camp and denied that his family is behind the alleged campaign disruption experienced by the mayor’s supporters during his campaign rally in Mambajao, Camiguin.

Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said Duterte and his camp ended up using his family’s names as an excuse for their disorganized campaign.

“I am disappointed and dismayed that Mayor Duterte and his camp resorted to spreading lies and smearing our names to excuse their poorly arranged, poorly organized, and poorly attended rally in Mambajao, Camiguin on March 23, 2016,” Romualdo said.

“I thought that Mayor Duterte and the people in his camp were real men, it turns out that they are just a bunch of liars, wimps and whiners,” he added.

Romualdo released his statement a day after Duterte’s camp claimed that the mayor’s supporters experienced various forms of suppression caused by the Romualdo clan in Mambajao, Camiguin.

Duterte's camp particularly named the Romualdos behind the alleged interruptions, mentioning that Mambajao Mayor Ma. Luisa Romualdo, wife of Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo ruled the island for decades while the couple’s son is Camiguin’s representative.

The Romualdos, who jumped to the administration ticket in 2013, allegedly threatened Duterte supporters and barred them from freely holding a rally.

During his campaign rally in Camiguin last Wednesday, the presidential bet himself blasted the ruling clan for their “feudal rule” over the island that he claims is hindering the island’s development.

"And you know when that happens, the feudal lords begin to think they own the place and the people," Duterte said, adding that his rally was even subjected to the kind of "warlordism" that has engulfed the province.