By Chito A. Fuentes
ALABEL, Sarangani – A few hours after his lawyer filed his certificate of candidacy for president in Intramuros, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte vowed that he build a law-abiding, God-fearing and comfortable nation.
“I can promise you a law-abiding, God-fearing, comfortable community,” Duterte said in response to questions on what his legacy will be.
Duterte was in Saranggani Province today as one of the guests invited to the province’s foundation anniversary.
“Ug akoy ma-presidente, corruption has to stop,” Duterte remarked in near the end of his 41-minute talk citing his experience in fighting corruption.
“Once upon a time, I was one of only a few Tanodbayan investigators in Mindanao,” he disclosed.
This little-known detail of Duterte’s service record happened before the establishment of the Ombudsman.
“Criminality has to go,” the mayor emphatically declared, drawing applause from the audience packed inside the 2,500-capacity gym.
Duterte earned a reputation for cleaning up Davao which was a virtual killing fields prior to his assumption.
The mayor, who has come under fire from human rights advocates, made it clear he would not change his ways in dealing with drug dealers and criminals.
“Di man ko mahadlok ug human rights,” he said adding that it is time to instil fear in the law.
Among the current crop of presidential candidates, it is only Duterte who has repeatedly warned on the upsurge of criminality and drugs use.
“We have lost a generation sa drugs,” he pointed out.
Duterte recalled instances when he dealt harshly with criminals and drug lords.
“Hardliner ko, cruel ko sa criminal,” he warned.
The mayor has consistently warned shady personalities that if they do drugs in Davao, he would kill them.
“I don’t know what would be my policy will be, pero pareho siguro
i will use the military and the police,” he hinted.
Duterte walked into a highly-partisan crowd which erupted into wild applause and deafening shouts at the venue to speak on the occasion of Sarangani’s foundation day.
The noise rose decibels higher when Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Duterte was the newest presidential candidate in next year’s election.
Marcos spoke ahead of Duterte and was already entertaining questions when the mayor arrived. Duterte caught up with the symposium aboard a chopper after presiding over a press conference in Davao.
Earlier this morning, he withdrew his candidacy for mayor, paving the way for the filing of his certificate of candidacy for president in Intramuros by lawyer Salvador Medialdia.
Duterte’s daugher, lawyer Sara Duterte-Carpio, in turn filed her certificate of candidacy to replace him.
The swift execution stunned even his close friends and political lieutenants.
After the initial surprise, however, the formality of his presidential bid triggered frenzied rejoicing among his followers particularly on social media. (CHITO A. FUENTES)
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