Backers not giving up on Duterte

The political party of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is urging its members to join the “Million People March” today at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to convince the tough-talking lawyer-politician to run for President.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) was not an organizer of the event, which is purely a “people’s affair,” but it wanted to see its members join the gathering of supporters to encourage Duterte to run for the country’s highest post.

“But of course we have encouraged our party members to go to the event with their friends and supporters. And just to enjoy the day,” Pimentel said in a text message.

He said he himself wanted to attend the event, but had opted not to go so as not to politicize the gathering.

The PDP-Laban, like other Duterte supporters, continue to hope that the mayor would have a change of heart and run for president in 2016.

Duterte earlier declared that he would retire from public service, citing lack of finances and the incessant objection of his family for him to seek a higher post.