MANILA, Philippines – Allies of administration presidential bet Manuel Roxas II from Mindanao flocked to the Liberal Party (LP) headquarters in Quezon City on Tuesday, December 15, to support him as he trades barbs with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“Mindanao is not hungry for entertainment, Mindanao is hungry for development and we’re going to fight for this election,” said Lanao del Norte Governor Khalid Dimaporo in an interview with reporters after a hours-long meeting with Roxas.

Dimaporo is one of 24 Mindanao-based politicians who met with Roxas in the weeks after Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a Mindanaoan entered the presidential race and surged in preference polls. At least two officials from the Davao Region – Davao del Norte Representative Antonio Lagdameo and Davao Oriental Representative Nelson Dayanghirang – also attended the meeting.

Pundits see Duterte as the Mindanaoan who stands a chance at being elected president, in tight 2016 race.

“We have to realize that okay, since the candidacy of Mayor Digong was tinuloy niya (pushed through), there was a lot of shift. Many people were saying that Mindanao will really go for Digong [Duterte]. But you know, you have many areas in Mindanao like our areas that the congressmen even the mayors and governors are with Mar [Roxas],” added Zamboanga Representative Celso Lobregat.

The politicians reassured Roxas they wouldn’t jump ship to support Duterte. They also discussed concerns in their own localities.

How do you solve Davao?

Last week, Roxas dismissed as a “myth” Davao City’s claim as the country’s most peaceful city. Duterte countered by enumerating Roxas’ supposed failures as interior secretary in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and dismissed his Wharton degree as a “myth”.

In a speech in Taguig City, Duterte “threatened” to slap Roxas should their paths meet during the campaign.

An irked Roxas faced media on Monday, December 14, daring Duterte to make good his threat and challenged him to a slap contest if the Davao Mayor can prove he doesn’t have a degree from Wharton.

Sahali, Dimaporo, and Lobregat acknowledged that Duterte will erode Roxas’s support base in Davao region.

Duterte also happens to be the chairman for the regional peace and order council. Roxas himself is aware of that, the 3 said.

“But it doesn’t mean to say that he is strong elsewhere,” added Lobregat.

LP downplayed reports that LP members in Davao have bolted Roxas for Duterte, although the administration bet said he “understands” if they do jump ship.

“I came all the way here just to see Mar and to reassure him that in our area, we’ll fight to the end. To make sure that he’ll win on our province and what was nice in this meeting was we saw a general picture of Mindanao,” said Dimaporo.

Sahali claimed all 5 provinces of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), “is in full support of the candidacy” of Roxas.

‘We have our reasons’

There are other considerations for the Mindanao-based LP members that cross the personal and political.

“We might be branded as traitors for not supporting Duterte as a presidential candidate. But my answer, as a Mindanaoan: The 2016 election is not about where you’re from or your personality. The 2016 elections is about performance and what we can deliver to the people in the upcoming administration,” said Dimaporo.

Roxas’ candidacy is hinged on the promise of continuity and building on the gains of the current administration. In sorties all around the country, the LP makes it a point to include testimonies from beneficiaries of government programs strengthened under Aquino’s term.

Beneficiaries of the country’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the country’s flagship anti-poverty program, are almost always featured in events with Roxas. In Lanao del Norte, where Dimaporo is governor, for instance, counts almost 80% of its population as poor. That means up to 80% of his constituents are possible beneficiaries of 4Ps.

ARMM, said Sahali, will vote according to performance and not regionalistic fervor.

“We’re just giving back whatever the Aquino, the goodness of the Aquino Administration had done to our region and had done to the province of Tawi-Tawi,” she said.

In a “Gathering of Friends” in Davao City, held months before Duterte proclaimed his candidacy, Roxas highlighted the attention Aquino gave to Mindanao. In turn, the President called on allies to convince those who remain unconvince to support Roxas.

Lobregat vowed to campaign for Roxas. “I committed to Mar early. So once I give my commitment, I will not renege on my commitment,” he said.

Will Mindanao’s loyalty last until May 9, 2016? “Insha’Allah (If Allah wills),” said Sahali. – Rappler.com