LAKAS-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro received a warm welcome in Davao City Saturday night in a grand rally organized by his Green Armies.
The event was attended by an estimated crowd of over 15,000 Dabawenyos, a report said.
Some 500 vehicles also snaked through the city's main streets from the old Sasa airport to bring Teodoro to Rizal Park at the downtown area where the grand rally was held. It took the convoy around two hours to reach the rally site, a route that can be taken in less than 30 minutes on normal days.
Girlie Oncada, spokesperson for Green Team 2010 city chapter, said the volunteer group had expected only 200 vehicles to join the caravan but some 500 car-owners actually registered in a show of widespread support for Teodoro in Davao City in the homestretch of the 90-day campaign period.
"I can't tell the exact attendance but look, the people are squeezing this Rizal Park square, which can pack 12,000," Oncada told reporters, noting that people were spilling over to the streets.
"What's encouraging about the rally was that there was no 'hakot' crowd, people just came at their own volition," she said.
Marichu Guttierez, spokesperson of Galaw Tayo Kabataan, said the heart-whelming support for Teodoro in Davao City was all the more important because they did not seek the support of any local politician in organizing the event.
"This is pure volunteerism at work," Gutierrez said of the successful rally, adding that volunteers of Teodoro in the city are not just the well-heeled but also coming from the poor sector.
In a statement, Oncada's Green Team 2010 said its members remain steadfast in their commitment to bring Teodoro to victory as the next president of the Philippines come judgment day and for this, "we vowed to continue to work hard in our positive and principled campaign, very much unlike the dirty war going on between and among other presidentiables."
"Our choice of Gibo is anchored purely on our shared belief of his winnability, which others defined as something that solely belongs to the two other candidates," the volunteer group said. "That was then. In fact a Teodoro presidency is imminent come May 10, 2010. Our victory is not and shall never be dictated by surveys done under unexplainable circumstances."
"Our choice of Gibo has nothing to do with whatever political affiliation he has, nor it has to do with whoever politician he is associated with. His sterling record, qualification, his galing and talino alone, could stand on its own," the volunteers added.
For his part, Teodoro thanked the large crowd as he recalled that earlier in the day, massive crowds attended his sorties in Mati City in Davao Oriental and Malita, Davao del Sur.
Some 12,000 people joined the Mati rally, while more than 5,000 listened to Gibo in Malita town despite the sweltering heat.
"Ang dami ng tao (na sumalubong sa akin) nagpapakita na gusto nila ng tunay na pagbabago. Dito ako kumukuha ng tunay na lakas sa inyo," Teodoro told the crowd, triggering wild cheers and applause.
Teodoro also praised Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte despite the latter supporting another presidential bet.
"Napakahusay na tao yang si Mayor Rody. Si Inday Sara nirerespeto rin natin (Mayor Rody is a very good and competent man. I also respect Inday Sara)," he said, prompting another round of applause.
The elder Duterte is seeking the vice-mayoral post, while his daughter is gunning for the mayoralty post.
Teodoro said he and Mayor Duterte, who was not present at the rally, remain as friends, which started several years ago.