SENATE President and Liberal Party vice chairman Franklin Drilon debunked reports Monday that his party mates in Mindanao were jumping ship “by the truckloads” to the PDP-Laban to support the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 elections.
“That’s not true. We got a letter from our party mates in Mindanao, denying the transfer,” Drilon said, even as he added there were a few defections.
For instance, he said, they have received letters from Liberal Party members in Compostela Valley reaffirming their support for the party’s standard bearer Manuel Roxas II.
Roxas on Monday said he was not bothered that some allies had decided to support Duterte and said there was no need for a loyalty check among Liberal Party members.
In his radio show, Duterte said the defections reflect the strong political unity of Region 11.
“It is a reflection of the situation there. Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Occidental, Davao City used to be one big political unit… Region 11 used to be a part of Davao province, with its capital in Davao City, so it does not really surprise me,” Duterte said.
In the Palace, a spokesman for President Benigno Aquino III said presidential candidates should present their platform of government, not sound bites designed to win votes.
Although not naming anyone, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda was apparently referring to Duterte, who was proclaimed Sunday as the standard bearer for the PDP-Laban.
Duterte, who initially said he was not interested in seeking a national post, filed his Certificate of Candidacy for president last week, substituting for Martin Diño, who backed out from the race.
The tough-talking mayor said he had a change of heart after the Senate Electoral Tribunal voted to junk the disqualification case filed against Senator Grace Poe, who is also running for president, over her citizenship.
“The responsibility of each candidate is to present their platform of government,” said Lacierda in a text message to the Palace reporters yesterday.
“And the citizens should expect more than sound bites from the candidates,” Lacierda said.
On Sunday, Duterte’s running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, defended him from criticism of his human rights record.
Cayetano’s statement came as Duterte promised to kill up to 100,000 criminals and stamp out criminality during his first 100 days if he is elected president, and create a lucrative market for funeral parlors nationwide.
Responding to reporters who asked if summary executions of criminals would continue under his presidency, Duterte said: “Put up a funeral parlor—just not a high-end one.”
Duterte told Manila-based reporters to go around his city at night and assured them no criminal would bother them—or they would pay the price.
Cayetano on Sunday was responding to criticism from his opponent for the vice presidency, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo of the ruling Liberal Party, who said they were able to develop Naga City the same way Duterte improved Davao without the mayor’s brand of leadership.
She warned that Duterte’s message of violence during the campaign would be dangerous.
Duterte said just as Robredo disapproves of his leadership style, he feels the same toward her own leadership brand.
“I do not also subscribe to the style of her leadership. She does not like me, I do not like her. So no problem,” Duterte said.