Duterte supporters hold motorcades across Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY –- Supporters of presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday held simultaneous motorcades in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.

Men and women, children included, on board pick-up vehicles and vans filled major highways connecting South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.

Vehicles joining the motorcade grouped into 30 to 40 vehicles to avoid traffic congestion as they enter populated areas starting at 7 a.m.

“We divided into smaller groups of vehicles to avoid traffic jam in major roads in Tacurong City, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and Koronadal City,” Karon Felmin, one of the motorcade organizers from Maguindanao, said.

The lead cars announce “Duterte, Duterte,” and “Change is coming” through huge public address speakers.

“We just wanted to make noise, this is simultaneous across Mindanao,” Felmin added.

Men in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao, rode motorbikes while wearing white shirts printed with “Duterte.”

Jong Mangudadatu, former mayor of Buluan town in Maguindanao, also led a separate motorcade from the provincial capitol in Buluan to other parts of Maguindanao.

But the vehicles joining the motorcade did not only carry Duterte’s huge posters but also those of Maguindanao reelectionist Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, both reelectionists under Liberal Party.

Organizers said the motorcade will continue until midnight. CDG