Duterte’s supporters raise funds for his presidential campaign

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte (Facebook photo)

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte’s Filipino-American supporters based in the United States of America are all out in urging him to run for president in next year’s national elections as they had already started raising funds for his presidential campaign.

The Filipino-American supporters in the USA launched the “dollar for the presidency” campaign to give financial backing to Duterte should he finally decide to join the presidential race.

The movement was inspired by the Moro community and religious leaders in the Philippines who previously launched “piso para sa president” (a peso for the president).

For the USA campaign, Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s publicist and sportswriter Winchell Campos served as the coordinator.

“Many Filipinos in the US believe that the style of leadership and incorruptibility of Rody Duterte is what our country needs to bring back the days of glory,” Campos said.

Moreover, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) believed that Duterte’s leadership would bring more opportunities to the Philippines.

“We hope that under his presidency, all bright and talented Filipinos now working overseas would be given the opportunity to come home and help rebuild the Philippines,” Campos added.

Duterte’s supporters had already started approaching Filipino communities in the USA.

“From California, we will move to other states with huge Filipino communities and get them to support Duterte not only with modest financial contributions but also to ask relatives back home in the Philippines to join the crusade for a better country,” Campos said.

Aside from California, the movement is also being done in New York City.

Duterte, on the other hand, has been going around the Philippines for his ‘listening tours’ and his campaign for federalism. The gatherings, however, always ended up with the public urging him to run in the coming elections.

But until now, Duterte denied seeking higher office next year with plans of even retiring after his mayoral term. Despite Duterte’s denials, his television and radio advertisements were believed to be for his political campaign and strengthened the public’s speculations.

But then again, Duterte dismissed the supposed political campaigns and reiterated that he did not covet the presidency.

In the latest presidential preferences survey, Duterte ranked third, tying up with Manila City Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada and following Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and Senator Grace Poe.