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Davao City, Philippines – The month-long Kadayawan festivities ends with City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte expressing that he is half-convinced to run in the 2016 presidential elections. This after more than 5000 people from different parts of the county culminated a caravan aptly named Run Duterte Run.
Duterte has earlier expressed his disinterest in running for a national position, stressing that he does not have enough resources for the campaign and that he is too old for the task. The city mayor reconsidered his earlier statement after millions pledged to support his candidacy during the people’s declaration one week after the Kadayawan Festival culmination.
In his speech during the Caravan’s culmination, Duterte asked the people to give him some time to convince his family to allow him to run for the highest office in the Philippines. Furthermore, the Davao City Mayor explained that his daughter former Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio refuses to give her blessing, stating that her father is too old and should be content with what God has blessed him with. Inday Sara is known for her punching a sheriff during a demolition in a slum area in Davao during her term as mayor.
70-year-old Duterte has served as mayor of Davao City for 7 terms and as vice mayor and a member of the House of Representatives in between holding mayoral office. In 2002, he was featured in Time Magazine who gave him the title “The Punisher”. The moniker was coined from the mayor’s reputation of no-nonsense punishment of erring locals, especially drug criminals. Duterte is also called the Lee Kuan Yew of Davao City, similarly turning the formerly criminal-ridden Davao into the peaceful mega city it is today.
Duterte has been in the spotlight since talks of him running for presidency emerged as he goes around the country pushing for Federalism. Despite the clamor, Duterte insists he has no intention of joining the presidential race. However, after the “people’s declaration” and candle-lighting at Rizal Park August 28, the mayor may just be announcing his bid for the highest Philippine office in the next few months.
VIDEO: Kadayawan Festival 2015
Release ID: 90360