While others are busy fighting CLOSE DUTERTE ALLIES PREPARE FOR THE ‘MOMENT’

CLOSE DUTERTE ALLIES

PREPARE FOR THE ‘MOMENT’

By Edwin Espejo

Asian Correspondent

Close aides and political advisers of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are digging themselves in.

They have a few weeks to go before Duterte makes a final decision whether to give the presidential run a go or not.

The maverick Davao mayor has been relegated into the background following the endorsement of President Benigno Aquino of longtime ally and close family friend Mar Roxas as flag bearer of the ruling administration coalition led the Liberal Party last week.

This prompted former Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol to resent the apparent Malacañang snub of Duterte who was not simultaneously flashed with presidential hopefuls Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe and Roxas during the state of the nation address of the president Monday last week.

Former Duterte chief of staff and current Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio ‘Jun’ Evasco of Bohol said his former boss has chosen to keep a low profile knowing the media will feast on the Aquino endorsement of Roxas.

But he added that they will be in for a big surprise if and when Duterte decides to run for president.

Evasco however declined to categorically say Duterte is running and would prefer that the Davao City mayor announces the final decision himself.

Duterte has been repeatedly denying he is running. But at the same time, he has been moving around the country and laying out his agenda if he becomes president of the country.

Flipside

Evasco believes Duterte successfully bared his true self when he guested at the prime time Sunday show of Vice Ganda last month.

“The funny guy that millions saw on TV is the real Duterte. I have known him personally and up close. He is not only funny and comical. Duterte has an unbridled sense of humor when he is by his real self,” Evasco explained.

The national media and their coverage will never be the same under a Duterte presidency, Evasco gamely assured.

A political observer who requested to remain anonymous because of proximity to the people behind Duterte’s media campaign said that image of the 70-year old politician from Mindanao in Vice Ganda’s primetime show has resonated to the ‘masa’ – the CD crowd.

“It balanced his personality and image. What he is offering and the kind of leadership he is exuding is resonating,” the observer said.

The same observer however said Duterte should make himself more visible and appear on prime time nationwide TV programs to improve his name and face recall.

“He is coming strong in Mindanao and to some extent in Visayas,” the observer also added who prefer to be called a political analyst.

The same source observed that the ‘May Tapang and Malasakit’ TV ads of Duterte in June have captured the imagination of people who were not familiar with his brand of politics.

“Here is a guy pictured as a human rights violator but gamely dances budot with kids and nae-nae with Vice Ganda on nationwide television. How can you say he is evil?” said Evasco in hitting at Duterte critics.

Duterte, Evasco and fellow ex-political detainee Etta Rosales are founding members of an institute named after the late Davao City Councilor Erasto Librado, a militant labor leader in Mindanao.

Rosales, former chair of the Commission on Human Rights, is now a staunch Dutertre critic.

Duterte also showed his vulnerable side when he almost shed tears and spoke with a cracking voice upon arrival in Davao City after a visit in Tacloban which was reeeling from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda.

Largely unpublicized, he has been giving support and visiting children cancer patients in Davao City – far from the tough hombre image he loves to portray himself in public.

Duterte has so far maintained the political high ground. He refuses to throw mud on the Poe, Binay and Roxas where the three are hurling charges against one another.

Duterte said all 3 are good but the better man is from Mindanao, he would add, in a loaded repartee.

So is Duterte running or not?

Christopher Go, the current chief of staff of Duterte, is certain the Davao City mayor is running for higher office next year without saying it is for president or any position.

Coming from the city hall guy who Evasco said is with Duterte’s side practically all the mayor’s waking and walking hours, the statement all the more add to the speculation the guy is really running.

Others said Duterte should make a decision very soon if he were to be a factor in the presidential race and in the crucial scramble for fund sources.

Evasco however said it is not in the character of Duterte to go out of his way seek funds from supporters.

Observers believe a presidential candidate needs to raise P10-15 billion to give the presidency a shot – not necessarily a sure win.

“We are very much in the (political) super highway. Those who are weak in their belief in Digong (Duterte’s popular name other than the more formal Rody), will give up on his style. We will start with who are left because they will be our diehard supporters,” said Evasco.

But it is almost now certain he is running.

Didn’t Duterte say he will run for president if Roxas picks Justice Secretary in the administration senatorial line-up? And didn’t de Lima also say she is 80 percent almost certain to run for senator?

Whatever decision Duterte will make, Evasco said they have already built a fighting machinery and political organization throughout Visayas and in Mindanao where the Duterte appeal is at its strongest.

(Photo caption: Whenever he is called, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is facilitating the release of policemen and government soldiers held captives by the New people’s Army. Edwin Espejo)