- Camp of Davao City mayor says LP readying massive smear campaign in Mindanao
- He’ll be colored as a pro-American who’ll allow US bases and companies to operate in Mindanao
- Camp says objective of the black ops will be to destroy Duterte’s image in Mindanao
MANILA, Philippines – Citing a source claiming to be an insider in the Liberal Party, the camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the LP is planning to launch a massive smear campaign against the mayor in Mindanao next week.
“The plot is to reportedly picture Duterte as a pro-American candidate hiding behind the platform of federalism to allow easy access for US companies to the rich mineral resources of Mindanao, particularly metallic ores,” the mayor’s camp quoted the source as saying. “They want to picture Duterte’s populist image as a mere façade to push for a federal system of government. Once it is in place, they will say it will grant easy access for the US to establish US bases in Mindanao.”
According to the source, the plan will be launched by diehard LP members in Mindanao in the crucial final half of the presidential campaign period in order to erode the mayor’s overwhelming popularity in the region.
As proof of his strong showing, Duterte’s camp pointed to his 47 percent voter preference rating in Mindanao.
“That figure has been rock solid for Duterte who elevated crime, illegal drugs and corruption as national issues, something no presidential candidate has ever done before,” the mayor’s camp said.
Reacting to the purported plot, Duterte’s spokesman Peter Laviña said it only reaffirms the LP’s desperation and the mayor’s strong position.
“No amount of money and devilish plot can revive (Mar) Roxas’ candidacy,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying. “This only affirms our conviction that they see Duterte as the strongest candidate with a realistic shot at winning the presidency.”
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