DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte wooed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan ahead of the first day of the election period.
The presidential candidate is on a 3-day visit to Taiwan upon the invitation of Taiwanese Representative to the Philippines Gary Song-Huann Lin.
A post on Duterte's official Facebook page said he visited the Taipei Expo Park, "where he was mobbed by hundreds of [OFWs]."
Duterte told the OFWs that he would ensure their families back home would be protected by the state, should he become president.
The tough-talking mayor also reiterated his promise to immediately curb illegal drugs and crimes if he wins in the May 2016 elections. (READ: Duterte vows peace in 3-6 months if elected president)
Duterte and his running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, are running on a platform centered on fighting crime and corruption. They recently announced that they wanted to increase the salaries of policemen – a plan that Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento has expressed concerns about.
Aside from Duterte, another presidential aspirant – Senator Grace Poe – also recently wooed OFWs abroad. The senator spoke to Filipino workers in Hong Kong, assuring them that she remains a candidate in the 2016 polls despite the cases against her presidential bid. – Rappler.com