DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday formally took over as the new chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-Laban) in an oath-taking ceremony in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday.
Duterte succeeded former South Cotabato Gov. Ismael Sueño.
The oath-taking was administered by PDP-Laban Secretary General Martin Diño after Duterte’s proclamation rally.
The ceremony was attended by PDP-Laban officials from across the Philippines, including supporters of Duterte and his running mate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Mayor Duterte’s leadership certainly inspire and energize our party ranks toward realizing an electoral victory this coming May polls,” PDP-Laban President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said.
“We have complete faith in him. Together with his vision, grit, and political will, we will win a better future for our people,” Pimentel said.
The tandem of Duterte and Cayetano kicked off their official campaign in Tondo, Manila early Tuesday evening.
Peter Laviña, Duterte’s spokesman and head of media group, earlier said Tondo symbolizes the plight of many Filipinos from Visayas and Mindanao, seeking for a better life.
“This is where we aim to start a new beginning for our country and our people,” Laviña said.
The Duterte-Cayetano tandem is running under a platform of fighting criminality, illegal drugs and corruption.
The duo is also pushing for a federal form of government.
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