The country’s most popular candidate on social media, the tough talking Mayor of Davao City, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had a strong and direct answer to the allegations thrown at him by the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay when asked about the issue of misused public funds in Davao City.
According to the 70-year-old Mayor Rody Duterte, he would bow out of the presidential race if it’s proven that a single peso was misused. Mayor Duterte was quoted as saying “Davao City is not Makati City. Duterte is not (Jejomar) Binay,” he said. “Maski may mawala diyan na singko sentimos, magwithdraw ako. Gusto mo sabay kami magwithdraw eh. ‘Pag may i-file na kasi sa akin ang COA [Commission on Audit], magwithdraw kaming dalawa. Hamunin ko siya,” he said.
The presidential candidate who is considered as the leading candidate among the millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) worldwide even dared the vice president that they both withdraw from the race.
“Binay, miski isang piso lang nawala sa syudad ko, wiwithdraw ako. Ngayon hahamunin kita. Ako wala pa yan, wala pang COA (report). ‘Yung propaganda mo, naghahanap ka lang ng damay kasi ikaw talaga yung makukulong. Ngayon hahamunin kita. Bilyon-bilyon yung nanakaw mo, magwithdraw tayong dalawa ngayon.”
The issue of the alleged misuse of the DepEd fund in Davao City started when the camp of UNA made headlines citing a 2014 COA report that found irregularities in the use of Davao’s Special Education Fund amounting to more than P45 million.
Mayor Duterte also revealed that if he will be given the chance, he will definitely ask VP Binay about corruption allegations during the highly anticipated second national debate which will be held in Cebu City this coming Sunday, March 20, 2016.