Duterte camp braces for more mudslinging with One Cebu support

Davao Mayor and Presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

The camp of presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that it is getting ready for more mudslinging as more local officials support the tough-talking mayor’s bid for Malacañang.

Duterte’s spokesperson Peter Tiu Laviña said that their rivals are already running scared and are expected to launch efforts to stop local officials from switching sides.

“We expect more mudslinging as scared camps try to stop this bandwagon,” Laviña said in a statement on Sunday.

The statement was issued after the Garcia-led One Cebu party formally announced that it will support Duterte’s presidential bid. The party said that it will bring one million votes for the Davao City mayor.

READ: One Cebu party chooses Duterte, promises 1M votes

Laviña said that their camp expects to score major wins in Cebuano-speaking provinces following One Cebu’s endorsement.

“With One Cebu’s decision to back Duterte, we expect to win big not just in Cebu province but as well as in Cebuano-speaking areas in Visayas and Northern Mindanao where Cebu’s influence extends.”

“This confirms speculations that many LGUs will switch side as Duterte gains more support throughout the country and take the lead in the presidential race,” he said.

Aside from the Garcias of Cebu, Duterte also secured the endorsement of the Zubiris of Bukidnon and the Christian Democratic Party under Liberal Party ally Rufus Rodriguez.

READ: Duterte gets backing of Bukidnon’s Zubiri clan

According to the results of the latest Pulse Asia poll, Duterte is statistically tied with Vice President Jejomar Binay in second place, with 24 percent and 23 percent respectively.

Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, kept her lead at 28 percent. JE

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