Duterte tells 15,000-plus Pampanga supporters to "choose"

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga - PDP-Laban standard-bearer Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte has once again visited Angeles City, hours earlier by emphasizing their right to choose - choose a corrupt leader or choose a leader that is willing to end criminality and drugs, at the Plaza Miranda in Angeles City. Local police estimated the crowd to have reached more than 15,000 which prompted them to temporarily close the downtown Angeles area.

Dubbed as the "Pampanga Grand Rally", the sortie jointly organized by volunteers and Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte - National Executive Coordinating Council (MRRD-NECC), started at around 5:00 PM with a free concert from Jimmy Bondoc, Paolo Santos, Mocha Girls, Moymoy Palaboy, Climax, Halfway Rappers, among others.

Senatorial candidates endorsed by the Duterte-Cayetano tandem had the chance of presenting their platforms to the people of Angeles City starting with Former AFP Chief Dionisio Santiago, former DILG Secretary Raffy Alunan, former Quezon City congressman Dante Liban, and former Manila councilor Greco Belgica. The ACP Party-list, which is primarily based in Pampanga, was also given a chance to be endorsed in the sortie.

At around seven, the mayor came with his runningmate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, on a convoy to the delight of the deafening crowd. Senator Cayetano spoke for about twenty minutes, swiping on the administration for poor government services and corruption.

The highlight of the night was the warm welcome extended by the Kapampangans to the PDP-Laban standard-bearer Mayor Rody Duterte. Angeles Mayor Ed Pamintuan gave the introductory speech to his fellow Bedista. Mayor Duterte started by explaining to the people that it is the plight of the common Filipino that opted him to run; he also stressed on the "government's oppression to the people".

Duterte also stressed out to curb crime in 3 to 6 months. Many times on his speech, he expressed his disgust and anger towards criminals and drug lords. While his speech tackled many issues, from federalism to his political leaning; he also mentioned that GSIS and SSS should be merged for government efficiency. Duterte tells the Kapampangans that if God permits that he would become the next president, he promised contractualization will stop.

The Davao City Mayor also mentioned his plan of improving government services and the raising of the salary of policemen, military, and "about 35%" increase for teachers, as well. He also took a swipe against Liberal Party candidate Mar Roxas, on his handling of the Typhoon Yolanda's devastation in the Eastern Visayas, as well as his "pretentious" Wharton degree.

The program was ended with the "lighting" of the mobile phones as the throng of supporters sing "Ako Ay Pilipino" in unison.

It can be remembered that Pampanga province belongs to the Central Luzon region which is the third most vote-rich region in the country with about 6 million registered voters.

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