I’ll end Filipinos’ suffering, Duterte vows at PDP-Laban proclamation

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was proclaimed as the official presidential candidate of PDP Laban. NINA CALLEJA

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said that he wants to be hero as he laid out his plans should he be elected as president in next year’s elections.

“Why is it that no one from Visayas or Mindanao is recognized as a hero, want to be a hero?” Duterte said.

The tough-talking mayor was officially declared as the candidate of political party Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Monday, along with his running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

In his lengthy speech, he said that should he be elected as president, he would put an end to criminality, corruption and illegal drugs.

“Criminality has to stop. Corruption has to stop, although it may take longer,” Duterte said.

He said that he is running for president because he could not bear seeing Filipinos suffer.

“Hindi ako nagpapa-hero. Wala akong talent. But I will not allow anyone to continue inflicting suffering to Filipinos,” the feisty mayor said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Also present in the proclamation of the Duterte-Cayetano tandem was PDP-Laban President Senator Koko Pimentel and its party-members from various parts of the country.

Duterte made his intention to run for president official last Friday when he filed his certificate of candidacy for president. His daughter Sara will replace him as candidate for Davao City mayor.