E-SEASON – Bautista vows to purge Davao del Sur from drugs

By Carlo P. Mallo
Davao del Sur gubernatorial aspirant Claude P. Bautista vowed to purge the province of Davao del Sur from illegal drugs should he be elected into office in the midterm elections this May.
Speaking before a massive crowd in Digos City Wednesday night during the kick off campaign, Bautista, said that the future of the province can go down the drain if illegal drugs will continue to proliferate in the province. He added that illegal drugs do not only destroy individuals but also families, which he said are the core of every society. The former congressman for the 2nd district of Davao del Sur also said that the proliferation of drugs also equate to the proliferation of crime, thus preventing business and progress to thrive in the area.
Reliable sources also claim that high ranking officials in Davao del Sur are engaged in illegal drugs, some are even suspected to be users. Sources add that Davao del Sur has the highest incidence of drugs in the region.
“Hatagi ko ninyo ug unom ka bulan aron undangon ang drugs diri sa atong probinsya (Give me six months to clean the province from illegal drugs),” Bautista said. “Sa mga pusher, pangita namo ug inyong kabalhinan (To all drug pushers, you better start looking for places to transfer to).”
“Ako mismo ang mugukod kaninyo (drug pushers),” Bautista added.
Bautista, who is now on his third attempt for the gubernatorial seat of Davao del Sur is pitted against incumbent Davao del Sur 1st district congressman Marc Cagas.
Bautista also challenged his detractors to prove their allegations that he was involved in the murder of Isidro Sarmiento, Sr. in the 2007 polls.
“Ako mu-withdraw sa akong dagan pagka gubernador kung ilang mapatunayan na ako usa ka berdugo, ka mamatay- tao. Karon dayon, mu-withdraw ko sa akong kandidatura. Dili ko mutindog diri sa inyong atubangan na dili ligdong ang akong pagkatawo,” Bautista said, which the crowd applauded and cheered on.
Bautista was joined by his runningmate, vice gubernatorial aspirant, Aileen Almendras, his board members and other political allies. Almendras is the niece of Bautista’s archrival, incumbent governor Douglas Ra. Cagas.
“Wala na sila’y laing masulti kundi kana nga issue ka yang akong pag serbisyo kaninyo sugod tung ako nag mayor hangtud pagka congressman kay matinudanon ug matarong,” Bautista said.
The entire province of Davao del Sur has been declared as an election ‘hotspot’ by the Commission on Elections due to the high tension in the area.