Town clerk reaps fruits for looking like Digong

MANTICAO, Misamis Oriental – A government employee, who is a deadringer for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, said he has been reaping the benefits of his newfound fame after his video and photos has made the rounds of social media, and after he joined a popular television talent show.

Cresencio Sulad Estremos, Jr., 58 , married and with five children, is a revenue collection clerk in this town.

Known among family and friends as “Inday,” Estremeos said he started to become popular during the presidential campaign.

Naa nay nagpa-picture nako (There were those who wanted to have photos taken with me) he said.

And from one such stolen shot, taken during the registration for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), that his photo started to go trending when this was posted in social media.

Estremos said he was proud to be the president’s look-a-like, but admitted he was first he afraid. “Kasi marami na nagsasabi na papatayin ako, delikado ako (There are those who were saying that I might be killed, I’m in danger) for somewhat like a mistaken identity” he said.

But later on, he said he just rode on the tide of popularity and “just enjoyed it”.

“Anyway, five years lang iyon, four years na lang ngayon”, Estremos pointed out. The windfall has not stopped. He has appeared in a national daily morning show. He has also endorsed a book entitled “Duterte Manifesto.”

And on February 16, he will be flown to Hong Kong where he will join look-alikes of US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un in a show.

So far, Estremos’ biggest break was when he entered a popular talent show, Pilipinas Got Talent, where he was a big hit when he impersonated Duterte. So convincing – and hilarious – was his performance that he got the approval of all three judges to move on to the next phase.

“Lipay kaayo ko, bahala diha tulo ra, wala man ta nagkinahanglan ug sobra (I’m so happy, though three approvals only, we don’t need more),” he said.

His reason in joining PGT was hopefully to pay his long overdue debts, which piled up when his wife suffered a serious illness and had to be confined in the hospital for two weeks, with bills stacking up to R200,000.

And even in his direst moments, when he was having trouble raising the R200,000 for his wife’s hospital bills, his being a deadringer for the President actually helped him out.

With only R70,000 in his pocket, the cashier initially said the hospital couldn’t accept promissory notes for the remainder of his wife’s bill.

But when he asked to be brought to the cashier’s supervisor, the hospital officer’s eyes lit up upon seeing him.

“Bahala dili na lang na nimo bayran, didto mi ni Presidente maningil” (It’s alright even if you will not pay it, we will bill the President),” recalled Estremos with a chuckle.

And his being similar in appearance with Duterte is but a reflection of how Estremos idolizes Duterte.

“Siya ra gyuy akong gibutaran nga presidente”, he is the first president he voted in and no other. I have seen during his campaign in Davao that he has a political will and sense that Duterte is different from any other, he added.