Davao City (CNN Philippines) — Hundreds of residents of Davao del Sur staged a rally Tuesday afternoon (July 7) urging Governor Claude Bautista to seek reelection in 2016.
Bautista earlier declared that he would no longer run for governor and would instead concentrate on his hometown in Malita, which is part of the newly-created province of Davao Occidental.
Carrying placards saying “Don’t abandon us, Governor Claude Bautista,” residents and mayors of 10 municipalities held the rally at the Digos City Rizal Park.
During the culmination of the 48th Araw ng Davao del Sur last July 1, Bautista declared that he was considering running for governor of the newly-created province of Davao Occidental – and not in Davao del Sur.
According to Padada Mayor Gladys Razonable-Gascon, Bautista should not abandon the people of Davao del Sur because of the countless projects he initiated for the province and because people want him to stay in office.
Bautista, who reportedly monitoring the activity through a live television coverage, is set to release a statement if he would accede his constituents’ request
By virtue of Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013, Davao Occidental became the 81st province in the country, carved out from the southern part of Davao del Sur.
