Duterte asks supporters: Stay cool in dealing with critics

DAVAO CITY – The camp of presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte has called on the Davao City mayor’s supporters to “take the moral high ground when engaging in any kind of discourse concerning our candidate.”

“In light of the issue involving some students of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, we enjoin all of you to be responsible citizens and exercise civility, intelligence, decency, and compassion when engaged in any discourse,” Peter Laviña, Duterte’s spokesperson, said in a statement issued Sunday night.

“We deeply appreciate the hearty and oftentimes intense expression of support and love for Duterte as all these push our campaign for real change to a whole new level,” Laviña said.

“Let us be reminded that we are here together because of our collective desperation for the country to break away from discontent, poverty, corruption, criminality, and proliferation of drugs. These are the reasons why we have aspired for real change,” he added.

Laviña said the mayor’s supporters “signed up to join Duterte in his battle, a battle against the systemic oppression by the government of its people.”

“The battle is not against our fellow Filipinos,” he added.

The statement appealing for calm came after news websites reported about a student of the University of the Philippines Los Baños throwing tough questions to Duterte during his forum with the UPLB community. A video of that moment also became viral in the Internet, prompting ardent Duterte supporters to bash the student for being disrespectful to the mayor.

The University of the Philippines, the country’s premier secular university, with a curriculum recognized internationally, has a long tradition of activism, critical thinking and fiscalizing the government.  Several months ago, Vice President Jejomar Binay also faced tough questions from the UPLB community during his appearance there.  SFM