DAVAO CITY- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte denied that his ‘listening tour’ where he is making the rounds in Mindanao and talking to leaders, as a form of presidential campaign.
In news reports, Duterte recently spoke to a multisectoral audience at the Dona Ynez Convention in Butuan City in what was believed to be an indication of “his openness to run for the presidency.” Duterte also talked with the leaders of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Caraga.
From Caraga region, Duterte is said to be moving throughout the country for a series of assemblies.
However, during Sunday’s episode of his program, Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa, Duterte narrated that it all started during the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution to allow 100% ownership of lands to foreigners.
“There was a plan before to open up the constitution for amendments to allow foreigners to buy lands. I said don’t do that because if you allow foreigners to buy lands here whether public or private, they will buy until nothing is left for us,” Duterte said.
Duterte said that he told the proponents of the constitutional change that should they push through the said amendments, “we will go for a federal government.”
“That’s where the talks about me running for president started,” he said.
Duterte reiterated his previous stance that he has “no ambition” to4 run for president due to lack of funds but he “has a vision.”
The “listening tour” will be held across Mindanao particularly Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and Pagadian.(davaotoday.com)
