MANILA, Philippines – Sheer political will was the trait Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte sought to sell to voters at his proclamation rally in Tondo, Manila, on Tuesday, February 9.

“I have promised you something and if you know me, I will really do it,” he told a crowd of around a thousand people gathered in an intersection in Tondo.

“I will do it even if I lose my life, my honor, and even the presidency,” he added.

There were no pre-written speeches for Duterte and running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano during their campaign kick-off event.

As irreverent as ever, Duterte teased the crowd, even refusing to face a certain part of the audience because he found more beautiful women on the other side. (READ: Duterte showing too much love for Pampanga supporters?)

As usual, his speech was peppered with expletives. This only stoked the crowd’s enthusiasm because the cursing was directed at the supposed sorry state of affairs in the country.

“Government of the people? Maybe. Government by the people? Maybe. Pero putangina itong gobyerno (But this motherfucking government), it is not for the people,” he said. 

No ‘Daang Matuwid’

Duterte criticized the Aquino administration for supposedly allowing corruption to take root in government agencies. His primary example: airport personnel involved in the alleged laglag-bala (bullet-dropping) scam.

“Ang daan na matuwid, wala pala talagang daan na matuwid (the straight path, there is no real straight path),” he said. 

Rody #Duterte bows in front of crowd in his proclamation rally in Tondo. #PHVote pic.twitter.com/C8ZGV744SX

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) February 9, 2016

Such corruption will end under a Duterte presidency, he promised.

“Hihinto talaga ang korupsyon. It must stop. Binigyan ko nga ang sarili ko, 3 months to 6 months. Kasi kung ako ang magpresidente, isa, dalawang buwan, hindi ko mahinto itong kaputahan sa Pilipinas, hindi talaga ito mahinto kahit bigyan mo ako ng 10 taon,” he said.

(Corruption will really stop. I’ve given myself only 3 to 6 months. Because if I am president and I cannot stop all these fuck-ups in the Philippines in one or two months, they will not stop even if you give me 10 years.) 

He repeated his advocacy for federalism, saying it is the “last card” the Philippines can offer to separatists in Muslim Mindanao if the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law is not realized. 

For the people

If elected president, Duterte said he would allot the biggest budget to 3 sectors: education, agriculture, and health services.

He said he would continue the  Aquino administration’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) but with an added livelihood component. His conditional cash transfer initiative would include loans for poor but bright Filipinos who want to put up small and medium enterprises.

Cayetano also emphasized Duterte’s political will and credibility as his top assets as a future president. 

Cayetano said that in stopping corruption, rival candidate Senate Grace Poe is a neophyte who can easily be fooled by other politicians while Vice President Jejomar Binay is facing corruption charges. 

“Samantalang si Mayor Duterte, pag sinabi niyang ‘Stop corruption,’ pati ang hindi corrupt nanginginig kasi baka pagbintangan (In the case of Mayor Duterte, if he says ‘Stop corruption,’ even the honest ones will shiver because they might be suspected of corruption),” he concluded.

April Boy Regino performs hits during #DuterteCayetano campaign kick-off event. #PHVote pic.twitter.com/FOqxVw11W1

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) February 9, 2016

Cayetano, introduced as the “senator who asks the hard questions,” also took a swipe at the Aquino administration for not doing enough to solve problems like Metro Manila traffic.

The root of the problem, he said, is the concentration of development and government investment in Metro Manila, at the cost of progress in other regions.

Election promises

Members of the audience randomly picked by Rappler for an interview said they will vote for Duterte.

For 56-year-old government employee Robert Tuason, Duterte is the only candidate who will do what he promises “unlike other candidates who say the same but nothing happens,” he said in Filipino.

Student Rhussell Famy, 22, likes Duterte’s anti-crime agenda. But asked about Duterte’s cursing, he said, “If ever he wins as president sana po ma-try niyang i-lessen o kung hindi man, sa public sana hindi na siya magmura kasi nga hindi po maganda yung pagmumura.” 

(If ever he wins as president, he should lessen or if not avoid cursing in public because cursing is not good.)

Honeyjane Pepito, asked about reports of his kissing and flirting, said, “Okay lang ‘yan. Joke-joke lang (That’s okay. He’s only joking).” 

Duterte called on stage senatorial candidates he is endorsing. These include:

• Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez
• Susan Ople, overseas Filipino workers’ rights advocate
  
• Rafael Alunan III, former interior secretary
• Dante Liban, former Quezon City representative
  
• Dionisio Santiago, former chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
• Sandra Cam, OFW rights advocate
•  Levi Baligod, lawyer of pork scam whistleblowers 
• Greco Belgica, pastor and anti-pork-barrel advocate

Standing next to Duterte on stage as he delivered his speech were his common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña; and their young daughter, Veronica. (READ: Duterte’s common-law-wife joins in in Manila events)

During the same event, Duterte took his oath as chairman of political party PDP-Laban.

But being Duterte, he gave the crowd a naughty look as he raised his left hand instead of the customary right, explaining he is a Leftist in terms of political beliefs. – Rappler.com