President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) showed he spent more than P371 million for his campaign. (davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY — Businessman Antonio Floirendo Jr., who gave P75 million to fund the campaign of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said his support has “no strings attached”
“Beyond the millions of pesos, it was my brotherly love to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte that prompted me to support his candidacy,” Floirendo said in a statement on Thursday.
Floirendo is the son of “Banana King”, Antonio Floirendo Sr., and belongs to one of Mindanao’s richest families.
The young Floirendo also won the elections in Davao del Norte province as second district representative. Floirendo ran unopposed.
Floirendo said his “brotherly love” for Duterte was the reason why he backed out his support for Duterte’s rival, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
“But I would like to express that all of the millions I have donated to Duterte are without any strings attached, so to speak,” he said.
He also said that he wanted his contributions to Duterte’s candidacy “be incognito,” however, he said he submitted to the mandates of the law for transparency purposes.
“It is my own humble contribution first as a “brother” and an ardent supporter, second as a fellow Mindanaon who saw in President Rody the man who could make it all happen for Mindanao,” Floirendo said.
Duterte’s statement of contributions and expenditures showed that he spent a total of P371,461,480.23 for his campaign during the presidential elections.
According to his SOCE, Duterte spent only P200,000 from personal funds or resources. It also showed that he received a total of P375,009,474.90 in contributions. The total included P298,363,792 contributions in cash and P76,705,682.90 in kind.
The Commission on Elections requires the filing of the SOCE to every candidate and treasurer of the political party within 30 days after the elections.
The Section 111 of the Omnibus Election Code states that “no person elected to any public office shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures herein required.”(davaotoday.com)
