Filipino netizens were excited during the first leg of the presidential debates after the “DuRiam” tandem dominated the social media trending topics as netizens were rooting for “DuRiam,” which was described as the political love team of the toughest presidential candidates, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
The country’s two tough-talking politicians surprised the netizens when Mayor Duterte and Sen. Santiago opted to shower each other with praises instead of the usual throwing of their respective failures as public servants.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte praised Sen. Miriam on his opening statement “It’s good that Ma’am Miriam is here because she is one of only two qualified to run this country,” Duterte said. The most popular candidate on social media, Mayor Duterte also defended Sen. Santiago who was caught under fire when asked about her health.
Mayor Duterte defended the senator by stating “I will not debate with Ma’am Miriam. She’s telling you the truth. I do not see Miriam passing away in the next 20 years,” he said.
The feisty senator on her part which is also considered as the most successful lawmakers in the Philippines today, praised Mayor Duterte for his achievements in curbing graft and corruption in Davao City.
“I felt sorry for my country because graft and corruption is endemic and everybody speaks out, but nobody has done very much except Mayor Rody Duterte,” she said.
Aside from the statement from both presidential candidates, the “DuRiam” love team was further fueled after images of the two candidates, who appeared to have embraced during one of the breaks, circulated online and went viral after a few hours of posting.
One of the most interesting part of the debates according to some netizens is the discovery of the DuRiam love team. There are reports circulating online that Mayor Duterte also kissed the hands of Sen. Miriam as a gesture of respect. He was also seen accompanying the senator as she was about to go down the stage after the debates.