By HERBIE GOMEZ, Editor in chief,
and NITZ ARANCON, Correspondent
MAYOR Oscar Moreno’s son Sean Oliver yesterday openly declared his support for the presidential bid of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a move that could jeopardize the local executive’s standing in the administration Liberal Party (LP).
The younger Moreno’s declaration was made with a surprising Facebook post that started a discussion thread where he stated that since he was not a candidate, he can be open about his support for Duterte.
His reason for supporting Duterte: the presidential candidate is a Mindanaoan.
In the same discussion thread, Sean Oliver also stated that his father understood his position.
The younger Moreno said he was campaigning for Duterte and his father’s Team OKKE, the local LP ticket. He coined the word “Dutreno,” a play on the surnames Duterte and Moreno.
A closed group called “Dutreno” was created. It had Sean Oliver as administrator, indicating that he was the one who created the Facebook account.
The “Dutreno” group had this description in capital letters: “We support Team OKKE and our president is non (sic) other than Duterte.”
City hall apparently opted to keep mum when this paper sought for its comment on Sean Oliver’s posts.
Maricel Rivera, city hall’s spokesperson, said she had no idea about the Facebook posts, and that she was waiting for the mayor to issue a statement.
But by that time in the afternoon, Sean Oliver already took down, apparently, the discussion thread although the “Dutreno” group remained active as of 3 pm. This paper sent a private message and SMS to him but there was no reply.
His father’s challenger Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District laughed. “I welcome him. At least, magkuyog kami sa among suportahan nga presidente.”
Rodriguez declared over the weekend that his group, the Centrist Democratic Party, has decided to support Duterte’s presidential bid.
Rodriguez said it would be a “wise move” on the part of the Morenos to support Duterte if they “are really for the development of Mindanao,” and “if they want a Mindanaoan to be president.”
Moreno’s partymate Rep. Rolando Uy of the 1st District said he doubted that the posts were made by Sean Oliver but added that he would ask the mayor about it. Uy and Mayor Moreno are supporting the presidential bid of former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II.
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