Ahead of the May midterm elections, President Duterte has encouraged voters to shun wealthy candidates who lack empathy for other people.
Speaking to the crowd gathered at the administration Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan campaign rally in Abra last Tuesday, the President suggested that people should look for new leaders who are sincere, hardworking,
and have a good track record.
“Mamili kayo ng Presidente, congressman, huwag kayong pumili ‘yang mga mayaman. They cannot fathom. Sa Binisaya, di nila maka-bot. Sa Tagalog, hindi nila makuha sa ilalim ‘yung sentimiyento ng tao,” Duterte said in his impromptu remarks.
Duterte, a former Davao City mayor, warned that rich candidates might only take advantage of the people. “Pagka ‘yang mga milyonaryo na dati may mga korporasyon, mga plantation, gagamitin lang kayo niyan. Maghanap kayo ng mga tao na sinsero. ‘Yun nagtrabaho na’t may maipakita na,” he added.
The President issued the appeal as he campaigned for the administration’s senatorial candidates during
the political gathering.
He claimed that administration bets, including reelectionist Sen. Koko Pimentel, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, former special assistant Christopher Go, and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, were men of integrity and competence.
Duterte seized the opportunity to discredit the “Otso Diretso” senatorial ticket, saying they resorted to black propaganda against their rivals. He added that the opposition bets have done nothing but criticize the administration. (Genalyn Kabiling)
