President Rodrigo Duterte
MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipinos not to miss their chance to vote and help shape the country’s future.
Duterte made this call in his speech during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) miting de avance in Pasig City on Saturday (May 11) night.
“Now more than ever, the Filipino nation needs us to chart a course of its future,” Duterte said.
“Let us not waste this chance to shape and secure the future of the Filipino now,” he added.
During his final campaign rally, Duterte endorsed anew his bets from PDP-Laban as well as his guest candidates, and took a swipe at candidates belonging to the opposition Otso Diretso slate.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo defended the President’s “effective” endorsement of his candidates and at the same time, attacking the opposition.
Panelo, however, said that whoever would win a seat in the mid-term polls would have to work hand in hand with the Duterte administration regardless of political affiliation.
“Every election to a President means something to him because those who will be elected in the Congress will have to be partners in the administration of the government,” Panelo said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) expects over 60 million Filipinos to vote in the 2019 midterm national and local elections.
Lanao del Sur visit
Duterte, meanwhile, bared that he might visit Lanao del Sur to deploy more troops there for Monday’s elections following reports of violent and harassment in the area.
However, Duterte did not elaborate details about his supposed trip.
“Kaya ‘yung dito...ang gulo eh. Kaya sinasabi ko nga na baka lilipad ako doon...para pagsabihan lang (It’s a mess. That’s why I said I might fly there just to warn them),” Duterte said.
He warned troublemakers to stop their violent activities or they would regret it.
“You must remember that until now martial law exists in Mindanao. Do not force me. Do not force my hand to do something which you might not like and hate me for all time,” he warned.
The President also asked government personnel, the police, and the military to remain neutral in the conduct of this month’s elections. (PNA)
