Debate crowd rooting for Duterte

CEBU, Philippines - If elections were held yesterday, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte would have won the presidency based on the survey results from among the people present during the second leg of the Presidential Debates held at the University of the Philippines Cebu.

Duterte garnered the most number of votes as evidenced by the thumb prints of those who attended the event. Duterte was followed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, who was not able to attend the debate because of health reason.  

Vice President Jejomar Binay ranked third followed by Senator Grace Poe and Mar Roxas, respectively. Yesterday’s debate also served as show of force among supporters of the five presidential candidates.

Hundreds of Duterte’s supporters clad in red shirt trooped to UP Cebu grounds while chanting “Duterte para sa bayan, Duterte kami.” Some of them came all the way from Davao City.

Some of them have to be stopped by the anti-riot police for being rowdy and for causing traffic jam along the area.

Duterte’s supporters include barangay officials, senior citizens, and ordinary constituents from Davao City.

Lucena Bargamento-Polache, 75, spokesperson of the group, said they personally came to Cebu City to support Duterte and witness the second presidential debate.

“Nagpunta kami dito para ipakita ang aming supporta. Mahal naming siya,” she said.

“Kailangan natin ng pagbabago sa tulong ni Duterte. Siya ang tatapos sa kriminalidad dito,” she added.

Polache said they spent personal money for their airfare, t-shirts, and tarpaulins. The group arrived in Cebu on March 17 and will return to Davao today.

Supporters of Roxas were also bringing yellow balloons and yellow and black umbrella. Binay supporters were also wearing blue and bringing streamers of their candidate.

Although their candidate was absent, supporters of Santiago were visible at the venue. One of them even brought an effigy of her. Even foreign visitors have their own bets.

Daiji Nagamitsu, editor-in-chief of Ganas—an online news website (www.ganas.or.jp), said he wants Roxas to be the country’s next president because of his “concrete” economic agenda.

“He has more plans on improving the Philippine economy like President Aquino. He is credible and cleaner compared to other presidential candidates,” he said.

Nagamitsu had been visiting the country since 1995. He used to live in Makati City from 1995 to 1998 because of journalism-related work.

He said Japanese businessmen do not like Binay, who used to be mayor of Makati, because of his “corrupt practices.”

“Many corruptions in Makati,” he said.

Nagamitsu and four other media relations student from Japan were among those who covered the debate at UP Cebu.

They are here to write stories about Cebuano culture, lifestyle, education and language, among others, including the second presidential debate.

Street kids wish

For street children, musical instruments and food are among the things that they want to ask from the next president.

“All we want are new set of musical instruments,” said Ian Cincoflores, 12.

Cincoflores was one of the six street children regularly seen along the streets of Mabolo showing off their drum beating skills to passersby.

They were hired by the University of the Philippines to perform yesterday.

The group is composed of 12 to 16 years old who call themselves Tribo Regla, named after their sitio.

Cincoflores said their improvised drums are already worn out and rusty. The drums they play were made of empty cans and plastic gallons woven together using rubber bands.

“Ay Pagkaon pud para sa among balay,” he said when asked what else he wants the next president to give them.—(FREEMAN)