Duterte-Cayetano campaign launch: Change to begin in Tondo 

The tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano will kick off their official campaign in Tondo, Manila, on February 9.

“This is where we aim to start a new beginning for our country and our people,” Peter Laviña, head of the media group of Duterte, said in a statement on Monday.

Laviña said Tondo has become a “symbol for a hopeful journey for change” where migrants from the Visayas and Mindanao started their dreams in seeking for a greener pasture.

“Tondo mirrors the squalor, the neglect by government, the disparity between rich and poor that characterize the state of our nation,” he said.

With limited resources, Laviña said the Duterte-Cayetano campaign would be “modest but creative.”

“Our main goal is to reach out to the greatest number of our voters in the country and abroad utilizing all forms of mass media, social media and traditional communications,” he said.

But he stressed that Duterte’s campaign for Malacañang is not just about luring votes from the people.

“This campaign is not just to seek mandates or to win votes, but most importantly, to empower our citizenry and bring back to our people the power and the capacity for change; to hope for a better life, a better Philippines,” he said.

He said Filipinos could expect a “high level of campaigning” from Duterte and Cayetano in contrast to traditional politics usually marked by mudslinging, character assassination, vote buying, threats and intimidation, and electoral violence.

“In this way, we can help effect reforms in our people’s political culture, discarding old practices, and adopting new styles and forms of electoral campaigning,” he said.

During the proclamation launch, Duterte and Cayetano will present their platform of government and elaborate on issues besetting the Philippines.

“These are anchored on ending crime and corruption, increasing social services, promoting economic growth through regional development, building peace, and re-engineering the government system to be responsive to the needs of the citizenry with equality before the law,” Laviña said.

Laviña said they have ordered their campaign groups to adhere to the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) rules and regulations regarding the elections.

“We have strict instructions to our campaign organization as well as the various support and volunteer groups to adhere to all the Comelec Rules and Regulations on campaign activities, propaganda, election finance, election day voting, canvassing and proclamation of winners, among others,” he said.

Even with limited resources, Lavina said they would be able to survive the campaign period with their massive support from the people.

“We are confident that we shall be able to undertake all our plans for this rigorous 90-day campaign period and be victorious for the aspirations of our people. For a better life, a better Philippines,” he said.

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