‘Tapang at malasakit’: Duterte’s alleged campaign pitch circulating in social media
An alleged political advertisement of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with the catchphrase “Tapang at Malasakit” (courage and compassion) is making the rounds of social media, prompting netizens to speculate on whether or not he would run for a higher office in 2016.The 34-second video was uploaded on Facebook by the Rody Duterte Supporters OFW Worldwide on Thursday, and has been shared on YouTube by different users.A Video must watch to all abiding citizens of this country….”Hindi na secreto kung paano umunlad ang Davao, kailangan lang ng konting tapang.. tapang para ituwid ang mapagsamantala, lumabag sa batas, at uma-api sa walang laban.. ang katahimikan sa davao ay kailangan lng ng disiplina at determinasyon. dumami ang trabaho, makapag-aral ang mga bata, sumaya ang bawat pamilya. pweding magkaganito ang buong Pilipinas, kailangan lang ng tapang at malasakit”…..- Mayor Rody Duterte.
Posted by Rody Duterte Supporters OFW Worldwide on Wednesday, May 27, 2015
But in an interview with reporters in Mindanao on Thursday, Duterte dismissed the video as an old campaign material he used in his mayoral bid in 2013.
“But it’s an old video used when I ran for mayor again in 2013. I don’t know who uploaded the video, but I have nothing to do about it,” he said.
However, reporters and supporters noted a portion of the video flashed Davao’s recent feat of being the 9th safest city in the world. The ranking was based on a data by crowd-sourced rating site Numbeo.com which was released just last April 30.
“So how come he said 9th if the video was shot in 2013?” a Duterte supporter asked.
READ: Davao City ranks as 9th safest in the world
In 2013, Davao ranked 4th in Numbeo’s list of safest cities.
Supporters also cited Duterte’s recent radio advertisements, which the mayor did not deny.
“These are not for elections,” Duterte said. “Why? To counteract. Because of these allegations that I am a killer. To protect my reputation. The radio ads did not say I am running.”
The video showed the tough-talking Duterte riding a motorcycle and interacting with some of his constituents, which included students, senior citizens, families, and people on the streets.
His supposed voiceover boasted of peace and development in Davao City, saying that it could be replicated across the country.
“Hindi na sekreto kung paano umunlad ang Davao. Kailangan lang ng kaunting tapang—tapang para ituwid ang mapagsamantala, lumalabag sa batas, at nang-aapi sa walang laban. May katahimikan sa Davao. Kailangan lang ng disiplina at determinasyon. Dumami ang trabaho, nakapag-aral ang mga bata, sumaya ang bawat pamilya,” the voiceover said.
(‘‘It is not a secret how Davao has progressed. It needs only a little courage—courage to correct those who take advantage of others, those who break the law, and those who oppress the weak. There is peace in Davao. We need only discipline and determination. Jobs have increased, children have been sent to school, and every family became happy.”)
“Pwedeng magkaganito ang Pilipinas. Kailangan lang ng tapang at malasakit,” it added. (These can also happen in the entire Philippines. We just need courage and compassion.)
A top comment by a certain Jehan Ohiman on the Facebook video said the apparent advertisement seemed like a presidential campaign: “Omg! Parang pang-campaign for president ang video. Makapanindig balahibo at nakakaiyak sa galak (It’s like a presidential campaign video. It brings chills to the bone and tears of joy) .”
In previous interviews, however, Duterte maintained that he had no plans of running for any national position in 2016.
READ: Duterte says no to 2016 presidential bid
As of this posting, the video has garnered more than 90,000 views, 4,000 likes, and 400 comments.
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