Duterte rivals in talks to pull him down – source

MANILA, Philippines – Rivals of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are in talks to forge a tactical alliance to stop the surge in poll ratings of the trash-talking leading presidential contender with the elections just two weeks away, sources revealed yesterday.

The source, who is privy to the talks, said the camp of Sen. Grace Poe sent feelers to those running the campaign of Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II to agree on a concerted effort to “expose Duterte as unfit to be president.”

“This is a different fight altogether. We’re doing this for the sake of the country, which we don’t want to go to the dogs if Duterte wins,” the source said.

“Nobody is conceding defeat here, it’s just about working together to ensure our future as a nation is protected from impulsive, unpredictable, and dangerous leadership,” the source added.

The source claimed both sides “mutually agreed” to open discussions on the matter, and the campaigners for Roxas are set to meet this week to discuss the proposal.

The downside was that Duterte might exploit the situation to portray himself as an underdog to gain sympathy and more votes.

The latest Pulse Asia survey commissioned by ABS-CBN showed Duterte leading with 34 percent or 12 points ahead of Poe, who obtained a 22 percent rating.

Poe was followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with 19 percent and Roxas with 18 percent.

The poll, however, was conducted before Duterte made a joke on the rape and killing of an Australian missionary that drew widespread condemnation.

Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, however denied his candidate was trying to forge an alliance of sorts against Duterte.

“There are no ongoing talks. This is pure speculation. Senator Poe’s next two weeks will be focused on her drive to amplify what ‘Gobyernong may Puso’ can do for the Filipino public,” Gatchalian said.

He said Poe “is not out to form alliances with other candidates in order to pull down other candidates.”

“Our strategy to achieve victory is to focus on our own campaign and to highlight our message,” he said.

Since the start of the campaign, Poe kept her message on “a positive beat,” Gatchalian said.

Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, president of Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, said UNA will not enter into such agreements.