Sara to still join motorcades in other areas amid ban in Davao City

Vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said on Thursday that she would still participate in political caravans and motorcades in other areas even as she banned such activities in her hometown.

"Hindi po sa lahat. Meron pong mga motorcade na uma-attend ako, meron pong mga motorcade na hindi ako uma-attend. Depende po sa schedule," Duterte said in an ambush interview in Quezon City.

"Hindi naman po bawal sa ibang lugar ang motorcade at caravan," she added.

(Not all of them. Some motorcades I attended, while others I did not. It depends on my schedule. Other localities do not prohibit motorcades and caravans.)

She also defended her decision to prohibit caravans and motorcades in Davao, saying it was a way of showing empathy to those affected by the rising prices of basic commodities, particularly fuel products.

“Dapat po nakikiisa tayo sa mga kababayan natin who will most likely na ‘yung mga pinaka nasa baba sila ‘yung likely na pinaka maging vulnerable at mag suffer ng effects nito. So we need to empathize with them,” she said.

(We must stand in solidarity with our fellow citizens, particularly those with low incomes, who will most likely suffer from the effects of the price increases. So, we need to empathize with them.)

Duterte said that she would follow the executive order she issued by not staging motorcades in her city.

“Of course, hindi kasi di ba I already said that we need to empathize with everyone who will most likely suffer because of the increasing prices and the effect of the war doon sa Ukraine at sa Russia,” she said.

(Of course, I already said that we need to empathize with everyone who will most likely suffer because of the increasing prices and the effect of the war between Ukraine and Russia.)

Leody de Guzman, a presidential contender, has backed Duterte's move, arguing such caravans primarily benefit the rich candidates and do not raise the country's electoral discourse.

Another presidential candidate, Senator Manny Pacquiao, said he would follow the Davao City government guidelines but pointed out that campaigning is an essential part of the elections.

Presidential hopeful Panfilo Lacson, however, found it ironic that Duterte is banning motorcades in her bailiwick when their ticket has been conducting these in different parts of the country.

Lacson hoped that Duterte would lift the ban. — VBL, GMA News