DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Friday finally announced his support for Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino for the presidency.
During Friday's yellow motorcade by the LP and Duterte's Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, the mayor was in the vehicle rigged with a stage along with Aquino, Roxas and his daughter Sara, repeatedly saying over the microphone as the motorcade crawled amid screaming onlookers: "Aquino-Roxas ang among ginatabangan ni Inday. Walay laing rason, limpyo ang ilang pagkatawo."
Hordes of people gathered by the streets holding yellow materials and witnessed the motorcade.
The pronouncement formally explains the reason for many yellow ribbons attached all over the city including the City Hall, City Council, city offices, parks and city structures.
Confidence
In an interview earlier, Duterte expressed confidence to LP's slate.
"Noy has an edge. He has been strong here from the beginning," Duterte said at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, where the parade started.
Duterte said that based on his observations, the Aquino-Mar tandem has long received support from the city's electoral populace.
"To what I can assess, he will continue to improve his average. Tataas pa yan if he'll improve his campaign. We're not really expecting a landslide, but we see he has a lot of support here," Duterte said.
"Sorry hindi ako naka yellow ngayon pero susuporta ako," he added, explaining why his shirt was a white-striped polo shirt.
It can be recalled that Duterte and his party Hugpong sa Katawhang Lungsod has long been wearing yellow, but have not immediately declared their formal support.
Asked whether Duterte's support has been present from the start, the mayor concurred, saying he can trace his support to the time of Aquino's mother former President Corazon Aquino and Philippine democracy hero Senator Benigno Aquino.
"My mother is one of the leaders of the Yellow Friday group. She was one of those who marched the streets to end the Marcos dictatorship," he said.
Gratitude
Duterte in his previous statements did not hesitate to say reason for his support to candidates is based on his expression of gratitude to the help lent him in his career.
Also asked whether his support behind Aquino will also be Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's choice, Duterte said he does not want to pre-empt the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder.
"I cannot tell or speak for him," he said.
From LP's senatorial slate, which the party tagged as "SLAMAT LORRD" as an acronym for each candidates, present during the motorcade were Sonia Roco, Danny Lim, Neric Acosta, Martin Bautista, Teodoro Guingona, Ruffy Biazon, Ralph Recto, Risa Hontiveros, and LP president Senator Franklin Drilon.
Duterte on March 26 formally announced Hugpong sa Katawhang Lungsod's senatoriable slate, which has candidates from other electoral parties.
But still, he expressed support to the LP's senatoriables, telling the crowd they have the free will to choose among them.
Initial estimate was at 80 vehicles, but this far exceeded the number as the motorcade took almost an hour to pass by Sun.Star Davao office alone along R. Castillo Street in Agdao, a very quiet stretch of road during holidays.
The motorcade came from Davao International Airport and was to proceed to Freedom Park, where the Hugpong grand rally was to be held. The mayor, during the rally, is expected to officially proclaim his support for the LP tandem.
Outside the airport, along the Diversion Road, the length of parked vehicles waiting for the motorcade to start already reached "Depot" junction in Panacan.
As early as Thursday evening, Duterte's chief aide Lawrence "Bong" Go confirmed that the mayor will be officially declaring his support for Aquino's candidacy. The declaration of support came one month before the May 10 elections.
A few months ago, Duterte also publicly declared his support for LP vice presidential bet Mar Roxas.
In the senatorial line-up, he, however, declared only one from the LP a few weeks ago in the person of Franklin Drilon.
Full force
The LP, nonetheless, was in full force to give its support to Duterte.
In its advisory, Aquino, Roxas and the entire senatorial slate of the party are in the city for two days to go around and campaign.
The LP slate arrived in this city on Friday afternoon and immediately went on a motorcade and people's march through the city's major thoroughfares. Private sector supporters also had an afternoon with the candidates at Marco Polo Hotel.
In the evening, the LP candidates attended the grand rally of Hugpong at the Freedom Park just fronting the hotel.
On Saturday, the LP bets will be visiting Davao del Sur where they will hold a rally at the old terminal in Digos City and will proceed to Padada town for a short stop. The team will then proceed to Surallah and Marbel towns for motorcade before holding a press conference at Fitmart in Marbel.
They will drop by Tupi and Polomolok towns before going to General Santos City, where they will hold another motorcade.
A late afternoon press conference at the General Santos City International Airport is also scheduled. (Gigie Arcilla-Agtay and Jade C. Zaldivar/With BOT/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)