Duterte reaches out to foes, calls for national healing

DAVAO CITY—Presidential frontrunner Rodrigo R. Duterte extended his hand of reconciliation to political rivals as he called for national healing following a bitter campaign in the race for the presidency that saw all candidates throwing mud at each other on May 10.

“I would like now reach my hand to my opponents and let us begin the process of healing,” Duterte said in a well-attended press briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, where he went straight after casting his vote at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Matina.

Although acknowledging that the exchange of innuendoes is part of the election process in the Philippines, he admitted that the mudslinging during the campaign period was very intense and virulent.

“Let us begin to forget, and let us be friends,” he said.

The 71-year-old local chief executive is contesting the presidency against administration candidate Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and senators Mary Grace Natividad Poe-Llamanzares and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

When asked if he is also reaching out to vice presidential candidate and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV—his most ardent critic during the campaign—Mr. Duterte said his peace offering is intended for everybody.

Should his rivals refuse his call, Mr. Duterte said he cannot do anything about it.

During the past three months, Mr. Duterte engaged Messrs. Roxas and Binay in a fiery verbal clash over issues as they toured the countryside to court votes.

But, it was Mr. Duterte himself who absorbed the stinging blows in the final two weeks of the campaign when Mr. Trillanes hurled several accusations against the presidential frontrunner.

Mr. Duterte was also a victim of a highly controversial political television advertisement allegedly paid for by Mr. Trillanes, although this was stopped after his running mate, vice presidential aspirant Sen. Alan Peter S. Cayetano, was able to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) that prohibited the television network from further airing the ad.

Meanwhile, Mr. Duterte said he is satisfied with the conduct of the national and local elections.

“So, far I have not received any reports of cheating and violation,” he said.

The mayor also made it clear to journalists that he is will not be presumptuous on the result of the electoral exercise.

“I remain only hopeful as of this time,” Mr. Duterte said.

Comments

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog