Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said that government leadership must remain independent of elite influence to truly protect the people from economic exploitation during the recent official launch of the Reform Alliance for Good Governance and Accountability (RAGE) on Sunday at Club Filipino.
RAGE, a political alliance, aims to unify various forces including PDP Laban, Partido Reporma, and Reform PH to demand accountability and address the nation’s pressing crises.
Duterte, newly minted PDP-Laban national president, positioned the presidency as the ultimate shield for ordinary Filipinos.
During his keynote address, Duterte emphasized the danger of leaders being beholden to the wealthy.
“Itong mga oligarchs eto lang naman talaga, kontrolado ba ng mga oligarko yung namumuno ng bansa, yun ang mahirap. Ang kailangan natin… yung leader of that country can protect the people from the exploitation of these oligarchs. Kaya hanggang ngayon ayaw pa rin. Dahil binangga iyan ng walang iba, kundi si Rody Duterte lang,” he said.
Early in his presidency, former President Rodrigo Duterte redefined Philippine politics by declaring war on the “oligarchs embedded in government,” a move that transformed his term into a nationalistic crusade.
The mayor directly challenged the nation’s business tycoons to relinquish their grip on the economy and prioritize the welfare of the marginalized.
He pleaded for the elite to give the Philippines a chance to prosper for those who have the least.
“Pakiusap ko lang sa mga oligarko maawa naman kayo sa mga tao. Give this country a chance na sumarap din ang buhay,” he said.
Duterte also acknowledged that many sectors are hesitant to openly support his family due to alleged intimidation from the current administration.
He revealed that even businessmen in Davao City fear being seen with him, citing potential harassment from government agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Meanwhile, the mayor also dismissed the need for mainstream media support, accusing some outlets of being “rabid” critics while others simply fear state retaliation.
Invoking the spirit of his father’s 2016 landslide victory, Duterte called for a return to grassroots volunteerism, reminding supporters that a lack of official resources never stopped the people’s movement.
“Wala rin naman tayo papansinin ng mainstream media because lahat sa Pilipino man tayo. So, we do what we do best 2016, anong ginawa niyo? Walang campaign materials na may mabibigay ‘yung tatay ko, anong ginawa niyo? Kayo gumawa, sa sako. Then this will be 2016 all over again,” he said.
