Davao City execs begin packing up their belongings

DAVAO CITY — Several officials at the Davao City Hall have reportedly started packing up their things and preparing to leave even if the Commission on Elections still has to officially proclaim first district Rep. Rodrigo Duterte mayor-elect.

Duterte is edging out incumbent Mayor Benjamin de Guzman in the ongoing canvassing of votes.

One week after the May 14 elections, the Comelec office here still has to proclaim the winners although the quick count results of the National Movement for Free Elections, covering 89 percent of votes cast, showed Duterte amassing 194,732 votes over De Guzman’s 165,037.

The Comelec still has to canvass election returns from at least 47 precincts as of press time yesterday.

Reports said contractual workers also fear losing their jobs once Duterte recaptures City Hall.

Duterte was city mayor for three consecutive terms until 1998 when he ran for Congress.

He and De Guzman used to be political allies but went separate ways when the former decided last year to make a go anew for the mayorship. — Edith Regalado