Rep. Duterte makes surprise appearance at campaign rally

Davao City Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte surprised his supporters on Friday night, April 11, at the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod campaign rally at Royal Valley, Bangkal in Barangay Talomo Proper and reaffirmed his commitment to his re-election bid.

- By IVY TEJANO

The lawmaker addressed the crowd at the Royal Valley Gym with a mix of gratitude, humor, and strong political statements, reinforcing his commitment to the HTL party, his constituents in the first district, and the people of Davao City.

Rep. Duterte dismissed criticisms of his absence from earlier campaign activities, stressing that if his father, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, had not been forcibly brought to The Hague in the Netherlands, he would have been present in this country and the city throughout the year.

Former President Duterte is detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity. People in Davao City and around the globe have been organizing prayer vigils for his safe return to the country.

“Thank you so much for your support, and tell them that I’m just here on Earth, not on Mars. Everything they said against me, I can hear it, and I’ll respond in time,” Rep. Duterte said in the local dialect. His lawyer accompanied him to ensure he remained cautious in all his statements.