DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/09 February) — PDP-Laban standard bearer Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will launch his campaign in Tondo, Manila tonight and announce his platform of government anchored on curbing crime and corruption, increasing social services, and promoting economic growth through regional development, one of his top campaign strategists said.
In a statement emailed to Mindanews, Peter T. Laviña, head of the media group of Duterte’s campaign team, said the proclamation rally of Duterte and running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano will be aired live on different radio networks nationwide from 6-7:30 p.m.
Around 15,000 supporters are expected to join the event in Tondo.
Feb. 9 marks the official start of the 90-day national campaign period for the May 9, 2016 polls.
“Our main goal is to reach out to the greatest number of our voters in the country and abroad utilizing all forms of mass media, social media and traditional communications,” Laviña said.
He said they chose Tondo for the proclamation rally of Duterte and Cayetano because this is where “migrants from the Visayas and Mindanao start their dream for a better life in seeking green pastures in the capital upon arriving at the Port of Manila. Tondo has become their symbol for a hopeful journey for change.”
“Unfortunately, Tondo mirrors the squalor, the neglect by government, the disparity between rich and poor that characterize the state of our nation,” he added.
Regional rallies across Luzon, Visayas,and Mindanao were also scheduled simultaneous with the national proclamation in Tondo.
In his Facebook post on Monday, Laviña said all six regions of Mindanao will have rallies to be organized by Duterte-Cayetano supporters.
Rallies were scheduled in major Mindanao cities and some towns.
The Davao City rally will be held along Roxas Avenue, with a minimum crowd of 5,000, according to Rocky Balili, a political leader and member of Run Rodrigo Duterte and Duterte-Diehard Supporter-Davao Region.
“We hope this inspiring beginning will propel us to reach out to our people during the whole campaign period. we thank all our supporters in Tondo, in the whole country and our OFWs and Filipinos abroad for the the support,” Laviña said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
