Know Digong first: Evasco

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.
Presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s campaign manager Leoncio Evasco Jr. urged critics of the frontrunner to know him first before bashing him.
Evasco said many still do not know the character and personality of Mayor Duterte. Evasco said “behind Duterte’s strong and sometimes intransigent persona seen in public is a compassionate, sincere and principled man.”
“I have known Mayor Duterte as a public official probably the most than anyone, having served him as chief of staff while he was still an appointed vice mayor in 1986 – a good 30 years ago. Add another year or 2 when he was a prosecutor trying to lock me behind bars of the martial law regime because I joined the anti-Marcos dictatorship mass movement,” he said.
He said he has seen him take the risk and take the road less traveled by in the course of his dedicated public service.
“I can swear to God – the way I took my priestly vows – that he has not taken advantage of his position to enrich his self or any member of his family,” he said.
Evasco said every single centavo of the money of the people of Davao City is well spent, every resources well allocated, distributed and disbursed and used.
“One thing he is intolerant of is the recidivist and incorrigible deviants – felons and criminals. He hates them,” he said.
He said Duterte most especially hates persons who discriminate, take advantage and assault vulnerable sectors of our society – the lumads, the minority, the disabled, the people with different gender preference and most especially women.
Evasco said for all his much talked about womanizing ways, Duterte has a soft heart towards women who are assaulted, raped and killed.
“I can count to you how many rape cases he personally attended to and take with extreme unction,” he said.
He said his ‘little town’ reputation, unguarded and unrehearsed manners may offend those who are taught how our national leaders should act, behave and speak.
“They may find him uncouth, abrasive, and even repulsive. Because that is how the elitists are trying to impose their myopic rules on all our people. Duterte is not in this elitist circle and he is definitely out-of-the-box,” he said.
“But by God, he is the most sincere, simplest but dedicated leader I have ever worked with,” he added.
Evaco said Duterte inspires people who knows him very well.
“For that, I will not exchange him for anyone else in the country,” he said.
He said he urge Duterte’s believers and supporters to remain steadfast amid the new challenges he and us are facing.
Evasco said the supporters must have faith in the man who already proved that he will place the interest of the people ahead of his. Even putting his own life on the line.
“In 3 weeks, we will decide if Mayor Duterte’s selfless dedication deserves to be reciprocated,” he said.
“I urge you to rally behind, vote for him and protect those precious votes. A vote for him is a vote for tomorrow and the future of your children our next generation,” he added.