SAN MIGUEL, Bulacan – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte just added this town to the list of its conquests.
Duterte’s admirers swiftly demolished perceptions he is weak in this town by a riotous welcome reserved only for hometown favorites.
No one could miss the landing site because of the long lines of vehicles waiting for the arrival of the front-running presidential candidate.
There was no hint of any effect of the desperate demolition job resorted to be his pursuers.
If any, it served only to fire up the welcoming party even more.
After a brief press conference at the landing site after Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, organizers aborted the announced motorcade due to time constraints, but it made little difference.
Duterte rewarded the patience of those who stood in line to wait for him when he opened the door of the van carrying him to the rally venue to wave and smile at them as he passed by.
Some were more fortunate because they were able to shake his hands during the time Duterte’s convoy had to stop due to heavy traffic.
Mobile phones and cameras were aimed at the passing convoy, recording the moment to prove how important it was to their owners.
The contrasting reactions of those he passed by betrayed the fate of their efforts.
“Nakuha ko sya!” a woman exclaimed, jumping with glee as she did so.
The frown on the face of her companion reflected her disappointment.
Some were more persistent, running after the mayor’s van which was moving at a snail pace, never giving up until they were satisfied with their shots.
Senior citizens and children alike jostled for position as soon as the van loomed in sight.
When the mayor’s party arrived at the San Miguel gym, it was already filled with cheering supporters.
Others who were waiting in the areas around the venue dashed to the rally venue, sending temperatures rising in the unfinished gym that was already steaming hot.
The reception Duterte got was not much different from the ones he got in previous sorties, chants and yells that drowned out the public address system.
Immediately after the mayor uttered his greetings, the gym shook as the crowd roared in approval.
Duterte gave virtually the same message he has given in recent engagements: his disgust with the quality of the competition, corruption by two of his rivals, the growing threat of illegal drugs and criminality and incompetence of those in office.
The repetition proves his fixation with peace and order, his hatred for corruption and the universality of his message.
Duterte does not show signs he is changing his message. There is no need to when even his foes are now changing tactics, revisiting peace and order after being silent on it until he seized the lead.
Opposing camps may dismiss the warm welcome as a fluke.
All they need to do is to visit the same town and generate the same welcome – without resorting to threats and intimidation of local officials and government officials and employees and bribery of local supporters.
Until such time, however, the observation that San Miguel town has fallen to Duterte stands.
With each stop, the
