No big pols to welcome Duterte in Cavite

SILANG,Cavite—No political bigwigs in vote-rich Cavite were present to welcome presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte when he visited the province on Friday.

Duterte, who is leading the recent poll surveys, was here a day after reports came out saying the Remulla family, led by incumbent Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla, was supposedly throwing its support for the mayor.

Remulla served as campaign manager of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the standard-bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance.

Remulla filed his candidacy for governor but backed out of the race in December and was replaced by his brother, Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.

The Inquirer had been trying to reach the Remullas since Thursday but Jesus Crispin, in a text message, said the family has yet to issue a statement.

‘Change is coming’

Instead, those who patiently waited for Duterte were hundreds of his supporters from this town.

Also seen in his sortie here were the Pobletes, an old political clan led by its patriarch and former Mayor Clarito Poblete.

People filled up the gym of the Silang Central Elementary School, only to catch a glimpse of the tough-talking Duterte.

Duterte arrived before 6 p.m., four hours past his scheduled arrival, and immediately left onboard his campaign truck for a motorcade.

A group of middle-aged women came ready with their cell phone cameras and monopods as they wrestled against policemen and security personnel from Duterte’s camp.

“Ang tagal naman ng presidente (What’s taking the president so long),” one woman said.

To which, a member of Duterte’s staff replied, “change is coming, meaning pwedeng magbago (anything can change),” referring to the mayor’s schedule.

“Change is coming” is also a campaign slogan of Duterte.

When the helicopter carrying Duterte landed, a throng of supporters, mostly men, ran toward the chopper, hoping to shake his hand or have their pictures taken with him.

‘Let’s wait’

Asked about the Remullas’ supposed endorsement of Duterte, his running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, said: “There are many, many more public officials from different parties who are talking to us. Some have sworn formally, some are making agreements and they’re welcome.”

“Pag one way ‘yung support, most welcome.’Pag two-way, we have to assess kung ka-prinsipyo namin (If it’s a one-way support, most welcome. If it’s two-way, we have to assess if they share our principles),'” he said.

Pressed about any arrangement between them and the Remullas, Cayetano said: “Let’s wait for them (Remullas) to officially say themselves … I think there will be some public events set up.”

“Ayokong pangunahan. I don’t know exactly what their stand will be (but) ang alam ko lang, as of now, they have said that they are not supporting Binay for many reasons,” he said.