Duterte - Mahalin natin Tunay na Pagbabago

MAYOR DUTERTE MAINIT NA TINANGAP SA PAMPANGA

Duterte said he askedGod to disqualify him

SAN FERNANDO CITY - Mayor Rodrigo Duterte confessed Friday that he actually asked God to disqualify him when he was still undecided for the presidency.Speaking before a highly-partisan crowd at the Partyland Restaurant that waited for five hours just to see and hear him, the noted that he never salivated for the highest post in the land.

"You know very well that it was never my ambition to be president," he recalled telling God in prayer.For a brief moment, it was a different Duterte opening a pensive side rarely heard in public. "If it is Your will, i-disqualify mo ako (you disqualify me)," he recalled saying in his prayer.Describing his predicament at that moment, Duterte said he was like an "electric fan" turning from one side to the other.Duterte did not elaborate but hinted that the dismissal of the four disqualification cased by the Comelec's First Division spurred to be aggressive in his campaign.The candid confession came as a surprise considering that the mayor never made claims to religiosity.He also stuck to his earlier pronouncements about the controversial cursing incident involving the Pope saying it was not his intention to do so."Hindi ako galit sa Pope, bakit ko mumurahin ang Pope (I'm not angry with the Pope, why will I curse the Pope)?" he asked.This time, however, he had something to say to those who crucified him for it."Let the man and woman in this house (who is) without sin cast the first stone," he said quoting the Scriptures.He followed it up with a dare to do something not consistent with his reputation."Kung merong hindi nagmumura, luluhod ako sa harapan mo, hahalikan ko yang paa mo (If there is anybody who does not curse, I will kneel before you, I will kiss your feet)," he added.The man who is the emerging rock star of Philippine politics walked into another euphoric welcome from people who started coming in as early as lunchtime.Duterte flew in by chopper from neighboring Angeles City where he visited the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte provincial headquarters where his supporters had gathered earlier.From there, he paid a courtesy call on Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan where he was again besieged by adoring fans.When his chopper landed right beside the venue, Duterte alighted expecting to go directly to the microphone.Instead, he had to inch his way as his path was blocked by supporters eager to have their selfie and groupie moments with him.What was expected to be a brief walk became another interlude as many followed him upstage until security personnel and organizers to step in.Former Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo who coordinated the event hosted by the Friends of Rody Duterte (FORD) had earlier announced that Duterte had instructed his pilot to go ahead because he wanted to spend more time with the people who waited long for him."If he will take the helicopter, he can speak only for 15 minutes because it has to leave (while there is still light)," explained Domingo who is also a former congresswoman.There were few empty chairs when the mayor entered the venue as the crowd rode as one in chanting "Duterte! Duterte!" Duterte was in a fighting mood, raving and ranting against criminals and corrupt government officials.Some actually left before his arrival including the town mayor of a neighboring province who apologized that someone was waiting for him.Aside from residents of San Fernando and Angeles, the audience included delegations from the provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, Bulacan and other places in Pampanga.Duterte said that among the residents of Davao are migrants from Pampanga and Bulacan which reflects the city's mixed culture.He pointed out that his parents are migrants themselves, his father a Cebuano, his mother has Moslem blood while his grandfather was Chinese. The expressed outrage over government incompetence, pointing to the long delay in processing his driver's license.He also criticized corruption in the government particularly in the questionable MRT deals, adding "I don't know if Mar Roxas has something to do with it." Duterte also repeated a commitment he gave in other forums that he is giving himself three to six months to solve illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.At the end of his speech, he was besieged by reporters who covered his Pampanga sortie before he obliged those who waited in line for their turn with the poorest presidential candidate.The sight is enough to strike fear among his rivals who have gate-crashed other events to be able to speak before sizable crowds.A government employee who watched the proceedings from a distance had a far more disturbing warning: for each one who came, there are more than double who would have wanted to come but did not because of the threats from the ruling powers."If they think they can threaten the people all the time, they are mistaken," he said.That's bad news for those who think harassment and vote-buying will suffice to win the elections. (CHITO A. FUENTES)Video by Rhonel Christian Abasolo Kenmark Sumbilon Robert Sahad Andal Jr Ian Christian CentenoAerial Video by JJ MaghirangEdited by Sahad Andal Jr