Peter Clarete DAVAO Rodrigo Duterte stands by his statement on Friday night that he has no categorical statement on running for President in 2016. We reiterate his call for his supporters and everyone to just wait and see if he will file his candidacy on the Oct. 15 or before the deadline set by the Comelec. The news at GMA News attributed to Lito Banayo was his own opinion or reading of the situation. The timing of this news release, however, has left a bad taste in the mouth as we received reactions that it was meant to crowd out the scheduled declaration rally of one vice presidential candidate. Mayor Duterte has no such intention to do so and has even been shying away from media as he continues his “soul searching.” He hastily called for a press conference to precisely correct news on both mass and social media that he is making his declaration to run for president. The official Facebook account of the mayor is Rody Duterte, the other accounts and pages claiming to do so are not. Kindly be guided accordingly. Thank you all for your understanding. ––Peter Tiu Laviña, Davao councilor and Duterte federalism campaigner   Name-calling begins THOSE who jumped ship from LP to CDP have called the mayor a liar for saying that the jumpers were offered money for their campaign expenses.  And because of this, they call the mayor a liar. The second district congressman is known for his spendings. It does not have to be the mayor to say that the congressman offered them money because the honorable representative is known for his deep pocket and quick-draw distribution of thousands of pesos to just about anybody. Weren’t the jumpers given money by the congressman in 2013? Secrets like this cannot be kept covered forever because in politics, allies now may be opponents later.  Remember that in politics there are only permanent personal interests, not allies. The councilor with business interests in city hall and some trucks, big trucks, for his what else, but trucking business, and maybe, just maybe some mining or quarrying interests, may just be hungry for media attention. Moreno may have offered the councilor some money to help him in his campaign.  And the congressman has not?  Oh, come on! Even before the filing of COCs, the name-calling game already started. Moreno is called liar for saying what the public already knows. We know that the councilor was once an avid fan of the master of deception.  Maybe, he has also mastered that art.  The master of deception and architect of mendicancy has mastered name-calling, and his hold over his supporters (read: puppets) is strengthened by threats of persecution of their dark past. Yes, that could be it. ––Peter Clarete, peterclarete@gmail.com