Listening Tour HUGE, ENTHUSIASTIC CROWDS MEET RODY IN BULACAN, ECIJA

By Manny Piñol

Excited Bulakeños and Novo Ecijanos today welcomed Rody Duterte, the controversial and colorful Mayor of Davao City called “The Punisher” by Time Magazine, applauded when he stood to speak, roared when he spewed his standard expletives and laughed heartily over his jokes even if these were delivered in thick Visayan accent.

Embarking on the second leg of his “Listening Tour” which started in Cebu City on Jan. 29, Duterte flew by helicopter to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan where he was met by a huge crowd led by Mayor Rey San Pedro and the town’s local officials.

Duterte and San Pedro signed the Sisterhood Agreement between Davao City and San Jose del Monte witnessed by a crowd of about 1,000 who waited as early as 7 a.m. for the 10 a.m. engagement of the Mayor.

Accompanied by the head of Davao City’s Public Safety Office which runs the only 911 Emergency Response Unit in the country, retired police general Frank Villaroman, Duterte enlightened Bulakeños on the recent developments in the search for peace in Mindanao and the culture of the Bangsamoro people who he said are largely misunderstood.

After joining Mayor San Pedro and the local officials in a lunch hosted by San Jose del Monte government, Mayor Duterte flew to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

He was joined by Cabanatuan City Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara in a motorcade around the City before proceeding to a local TV and radio station for an interview.

Mayor Duterte then proceeded to the forum on National Peace and Development which was attended by about 1,200 composed of representatives of the youth, business, government, womean groups, farmers, market vendors, drivers, students and members of the lcoal Muslim community.

Duterte continued his advocacy on Federalism and denounced corruption in government while at the same time sharing Davao City’s experiences in the campaign against drugs and criminality which made the city One of the Safest Cities in the World.

On Monday, Duterte and his group will proceed to Puerto Princesa, Palawan where he is expected to be met by Palawan Governor Pepito Alvarez, who is married to a cousin of Duterte, former Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn and former motorcycle racer Butch Chase, a riding buddy of the Mayor.

The “Listening Tour” started in Butuan City Jan. 22 and has already covered Zamboanga City and Cebu City. Pagadian City, which was supposed to have been visited Jan. 26, was skipped after Duterte’s plane failed to land in the local airport because of zero visibility resulting from heavy rain.

Mayor Duterte is expected to continue with his Federalism advocacy through the “Listening Tour” while at the same time listening to the voices of the people who have been asking him to consider the Presidency in 2016.

Duterte, who earlier turned down all suggestions that he run for President, has lately softened his hardline position against the idea and agreed to listen to the people.