Duterte supporters launch fund drive

MANILA, Philippines – Supporters of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte and running mate Sen. Alan Cayetano have launched inspirational scratch cards, a scheme that allows them to donate funds for the tandem’s campaign war chest.

However, campaign spokesman Peter Laviña said the Duterte camp might not be able to use it as a means of raising campaign funds, citing the disclosure requirement of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as something that may make it impractical to adopt.

Chairman Andres Bautista said he is yet to look into the scheme, although he clarified that it will only be disallowed if the scratch card becomes a form of gambling.

“I will look into that. This is news to me so I cannot comment yet… if it is a mechanism to raise funds, maybe it is allowed. I have to know the parameters,” Bautista told reporters.

Laviña explained in his Facebook page that the scratch cards – ranging in value from P25 to P500,000 – project is being handled by Duterte’s designated political organizers in Mindanao. The cheaper cards are made of paper and have denominations from P25 to P500. Cards with a face value of P1,000 to P500,000 are made of polyvinyl chloride material or PVC.

The problem comes when a supporter buys the cheaper cards and ends up paying more in order to have it notarized by a lawyer, and then to submit the documentary requirements to the Comelec 30 days after the election, which the buyer or the party could do.

“It is legal. But it would be impossible for us to use this due to the reportorial requirements where donors must each execute and sign a notarized report of contribution,” Laviña said.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, it is unlawful for any person to hold dances, lotteries, cockfights, games, boxing bouts, bingo, beauty contests, entertainment or cinematographic, theatrical or other performances to raise funds for an election campaign.

Laviña said the Duterte-Cayetano supporters could still help the two in many other ways.

No beef with KMU

Meanwhile, Duterte regretted having told during his proclamation rally in Tondo last Tuesday the Kilusang Mayo Uno, a labor group that is considered among his allies, to stop organizing unions or get exterminated.

He claimed his statement was taken out of context when he talked on labor issues, including inviting more investors to the country and helping special economic zones create more jobs.

Duterte stressed that he has a long-standing relationship with KMU and has even worked with the late Erasto Librado, the group’s secretary general in the ’90s.

Laviña said, “Duterte is a lawyer and is fully aware of labor’s right to organize, freely redress their grievances and have a share of the fruits of their toil.”

He added that Duterte even included Librado in his lineup in 1992, where the latter won a seat in the city council. Two months into office though, Librado died and was replaced by his wife Marlyn, who served two three-year terms.

Laviña also said the couple’s daughter Angela Librado Trinidad now serves as chairman for Barangay Matina, one of Davao’s biggest communities, while her younger sister Leah Librado-Yap is a city councilor.

Aside from this, Laviña stressed that Duterte has repeatedly intervened and helped resolve labor disputes in Davao City in the 1980s and early 1990s.

But the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is not taking things lightly as it considers filing a disqualification case against Duterte.

“We might have found it amusing when he declared war on drug lords and vowed to kill them. But to threaten to kill workers who want to exercise their right to organize themselves for just wages and better working condition is a direct attack on workers,” said Julius Cainglet, FFW assistant vice president.

Despite the issue made during the proclamation rally, Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing said Tondo residents will campaign and vote for Duterte and Cayetano.

He said many Tondo residents are from the Visayas and Mindanao and would naturally support the Duterte-Cayetano ticket, adding that it was the first time a team gunning for the top two positions in the country launched its campaign in the “neglected part of the city.”

Duterte, who promised to end contract labor in the country, recently admitted to having Buerger’s disease or the inflammation of blood vessels, mostly in the limbs, due to smoking.

He is also reported to have Barret’s Esophagus, a more serious form of gastro esophageal reflux, in which the lining of the esophagus is replaced by intestinal tissue.

Duterte’s partner Cielito Avanceña previously admitted that the mayor is taking maintenance drugs but that he is physically fit.

Avanceña, a nurse, is joining Duterte on the campaign trail “to check on his health” and to guide him. 

No opinion clash on GMA

Cayetano clarified yesterday that he and Duterte are not at odds on the issue of whether or not to free detained former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“We share the same core values when it comes to justice,” Cayetano said over radio dzBB.

The vice presidential bet, who is also a lawyer, pointed out that it is not the job of the president to set free those in detention.

“In the end, we are for justice. If one is guilty, no matter how popular, that person must be jailed. And if he is not, no matter the clamor to jail, that person must be set free,” Cayetano said in Filipino.

He stressed that he is not wavering on his position that Arroyo, now tried for involvement in the squander of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence fund, should be set free, a position that Duterte also follows, provided “the evidence stacked against her is weak.”

“This is in our Constitution. For those with penalties of reclusion perpetua (life sentence) or higher and the evidence is strong – no bail. If the evidence is weak, bail is granted. When the mayor was asked, the question centered on the intelligence fund and he said the evidence in that case is weak,” Cayetano explained.  – With Jess Diaz, Edith Regalado, Mike Frialde, Mayen Jaymalin, Sheila Crisostomo